Pembrokeshire had fought their way through to the final in the previous two seasons and after two losses were now hoping that this time it would be third time lucky.
Pembrokeshire started the final in the best possible fashion when scrum half and captain Lewis Gibby stole away in the first minute to score close to the touchline. Outside Half Jake Jenkins converted this try superbly and then added a penalty to give his team an early 10 point lead.
Bridgend settled to their game and for much of the half the teams were evenly matched in a contest that had yet to spark to life. Moments before half time Pembrokeshire struck a crucial blow when Gibby crossed for his second try and give his team a deserved 15 point half time lead.
After the break Bridgend, obviously inspired by coach Liam Scott’s half time team talk took the match to their Western rivals. Using their strong pack to good effect the Mid Glamorgan team began to erode the Pembrokeshire lead.
First Nathan Watts fought to the try line after an impressive driving maul from a line out and then exciting wing Jack Bryden chose a great angle to power through the Pembrokeshire defence With the score now 15-10 after a quarter of an hour of the second half it looked as if the sizeable crowd, basking the sunshine of the early May evening, would see a trilling climax to this Final. As so it was to be. The match momentum swung from one team to the other in the closing minutes. Lewis Gibby advanced the Pembrokeshire cause with his third try which again Jenkins converted with an expert kick. Then Bryden ran well to score a deserved second try which was well converted for Bridgend by outside half Hywel Phillips. With 10 minutes to go the score was 22-17 to Pembrokeshire but it appeared that Bridgend had now taken the initiative.
The Pembrokeshire defence remained resolute and resisted the challenge from the team in blue and white. In the dying moments those defensive efforts were rewarded when Jack Parkinson scored the fourth and decisive try for the Pembrokeshire District team.
When the Referee Kevin Davies blew his final whistle Pembrokeshire secured their victory. Under the shrewd coaching of former Wales captain Kevin Phillips at their third attempt in recent seasons Pembrokeshire deservedly took the Wynne Lloyd title.
Teams:
Pembrokeshire: Jordan Roberts, Luke Hartland, Jack Parkinson, Danny Wainwright, Tom Kinnear, Jake Jenkins, Lewis Gibby Captain, Lloyd Davies, Jordan Frank, Aaron Mayne, Leigh Thomas, Ryan Bean, Alex Thomas, Kyle Williams and Ryan Jeremias. Substitutes- Kyle Hamer, Gethin Benjamin, Ryan Palmer, Morgan Layton, Harry Owen, Rhys Cadogan and Josh Hewins.
Bridgend: Callum Powell, Jack Bryden, Iwan Iranca Davies, Jordan Fox, Sam Rowland Jones, Hywel Phillips, Ben Davies, Nathan Watts, Rhys Davies, Declan Powell, Javan Bell, Stefan Jones, Dewi Lake, Luke Williams and Ben Asprea. Substitutes-Dewi Parish, Cohen Lewis, Dan Watkins, Ross Boast, Callum Palmer, Kyle Oram and Dan James
