It proved to be a tough opening few weeks for the Cardiff-based school with a heavy, opening day defeat by Neath Port Talbot College (52-8) being followed by an agonising, two-point home defeat to Pembrokeshire Rugby (26-14). The clash with Gwent on Tuesday night, live on TV, will be another tough test.
They finally broke their duck in Colwyn Bay, where they held off Llandrillo College to win 24-19 at Parc Eirias. They had to be patient, and hang on in the end, but a win is a win is a win!
“They dug deep and came away with a win, which was a huge boost to the confidence of the side. We were a very, very young side last year and we have got virtually the same players this season,” explained Whitchurch’s legendary rugby guru, Steve Williams.
“David Griffiths has come in as coach and his perspective is slightly different – our approach has changed. But you can only play with what you’ve got.
“The key to being hugely successful in this tournament is recruitment. If you are low on recruitment you are going to be low on quality.
“We didn’t get a lot in, but we had a good group coming through. We aren’t able to rely heavily on players coming in from the outside, so we have to develop from within and that is what we do.
“The system is such that it allows the bigger colleges to have enough players to put out four or five teams because they supply courses that allow players to put rugby first. We can’t do that as a school, where our main priority is A Levels.
“We will provide good competition this season, but I will be very surprised if Sir Gar and Cymoedd don’t win again. That said, I think Glantaf could surprise a few with the group of players they are bringing through.”
It took 25 minutes before scrum half Morgan James was able to break the deadlock in north Wales with a spectacular solo try from half-way (WATCH HERE) that wing Ruari O’Flynn converted. Will Sanderson responded with a home try, but Whitchurch were ahead 12-5 at the break thanks to a try from O’Flynn.
Llandrillo got off to a flying start in the second half and levelled the scores with a Bailey Rae try that Sam Earl-Jones improved. A third Whitchurch try, this time from George Riley and converted by O’Flynn, gave the visitors the lead once again before Rhys Henderson crashed over and Earl-Jones tied things up again.
That left the way clear for No 8 Emyr Jones to win the game on the hour mark with a fourth try for Whitchurch to make the long trek home all the more palatable.
Gwent College, meanwhile, fell to their first defeat when they were beaten 18-3 by reigning champions Sir Gar at Llandovery’s Church Bank ground. A tight affair saw Gwent outside half Evan Lloyd snatch the lead with a 12th minute penalty to give his side hope of continuing their winning streak after wins over Pembrokeshire College (34-14) and Llandrillo College (26-24).
But a Bradley Roderick penalty and a try from Dean James edged Sir Gar ahead 8-3 at the break and then Roderick added a try, conversion and penalty in the second half to complete the victory.
Welsh Schools & Colleges League – Round 4
Tuesday, 3 October
Coleg Gwent v Whitchurch HS (Pandy, Park, Cross Keys – 19:00)
Wednesday, 4 October
Coleg Llandrillo v Llandovery College
Pembrokeshire Rugby v Coleg Y Cymoedd
Coleg Sir Gar v Bridgend College
Newport HS v Cardiff & Vale College
Ysgol Glantaf v Gower College
TUESDAY TEAMS
Coleg Gwent: Luke Shore; Ewan Rosser, Duane Thomas, Aneurin Owen, Deon Smith; Evan Lloyd, Dylan Davies; Nathan Evans (captain), Jack Gillard, Taylor Hansen, Llewi Maclean, Dylan Shorthouse, Rob Brookson, Matthew Jefferies, Callum Barton
Reps: Zac Hewlett, Kyan Best, Leo Williams, Morgan Thomas, Adam Young, Cole Jones, Scott Bowden, Ethan Clayden
Whitchurch HS: Harri Hill; Sam Gasston, Owen Walrond, Will Young, Ruari O’Flynn; Nat Ahmed, Morgan James; Joe Melhuish, Harry Boxall, John Woodward, Tom Vanstone, Lewis Jameson (captain), Nathan Williams, George Riley, Emyr Jones
Reps: Will Dungey, Ashley Power, Ethan Cowan, Chris Tshuinza, Jake MacPherson, James Legg, Matt Bennett
