After outscoring their opponents by three tries to one, the north Wales outfit were deserved winners, their victory seeing them progress to the latter stages alongside Coleg Gwent.
On Wednesday afternoon, Ryan Pike, full back Morgan Williams and replacement Dewi Bowen had all crossed for Llandrillo, with Williams converting two of those tries and kicking a penalty in a superb individual display.
Centre Harri Collier had replied for Cowbridge with James Whittingham converting but it wasn’t enough for the Vale of Glamorgan side.
In a game dominated by a strong wind, Llandrillo played into the conditions in the first half. Unsurprisingly then, it was Cowbridge who dominated most of the territory in the early exchanges. Whittingham put a penalty effort wide but it wasn’t long before the home side went ahead, the Cowbridge full back successful with his second effort at goal.
Whittingham’s early kick aside, the rest of the first half turned into an even encounter as Llandrillo woke up from what was a fairly slow start. Williams was the one to spark Josh Leach’s side into life, a clean break setting up a chance to level the scores. Though the penalty went wide, understandably so given the wind, Llandrillo soon got their noses in front with a try from Pike. The right winger finished superbly, rounding the Cowbridge defence and finishing under the posts to make Williams’ conversion a simple one.
Llandrillo carried their 7-3 lead into the break, Cowbridge missing a chance to narrow their deficit when Whittingham was awry from the tee.
With the conditions now in their favour, Llandrillo started the second half looking to extend their advantage. Strangely though, it was Cowbridge who got the first score, Collier getting his side up and running after the break. Whittingham’s kick again went wide but his side were now ahead for the first time.
The score gave Cowbridge hope but from then on in, Llandrillo raised their game. Two further tries and the boot of Williams secured the win, with Cowbridge failing to score another point.
Williams continued his mesmeric display with Llandrillo’s second score, stepping past a number of defenders on his way to the line as well as adding the conversion. A penalty from the Llandrillo full back made it 17-8 and there was still time for Bowen, on as a replacement, to add gloss to the final score line.
It completed a memorable day for the north Wales college, who can now look forward to clashes with the likes of Coleg Sir Gar and Neath Port Talbot College in the next round.
Scorers:
Cowbridge Comprehensive: Tries: Collier; Penalty: Whittingham.
Llandrillo College: Tries: Pike, Williams, Bowen; Conversions: Williams (2); Penalties: Williams.
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF TODAY’S GAME ON RYGBI PAWB ON S4C AT 10.30PM THIS EVENING
