Jack Roberts raced over for two sparkling tries as Cowbridge CS ran out convincing 29-3 winners at Whitchurch HS in the WRU U18 Midweek League.Having missed out on the opening round of games because of front row difficulties, Cowbridge showed off their potent potential in attack with four tries from their pacy wingers and another from outside half Cai Evans.
Evans, who helped Cowbridge Youth win the WRU Youth Cup at the Principality Stadium last season, also kicked two conversions and was the man who pulled he strings behind the scrum for the visitors. He switched seamlessly
to full back late on in the game, allowing Bevan Hughes to move in at No 10, and helped put Harrison Stevens in for a great overlap try in the second half.
Cowbridge soaked up 10 minutes of intense pressure from Whitchurch, who had a comfortable victory over Bridgend College in their opening game, and led 12-3 at the break thanks to Roberts’ first try and a try and conversion from Evans. The home points came from a Ruari Bevan penalty.
The Whitchurch pack were the dominant force at scrum time and piled on the pressure once again at the start of the second half. But too often they lost the ball in contact and were guilty of trying to play too wide against a team better equipped to play in the open spaces.
The final quarter was totally dominated by Cowbridge, who managed three more second half tries from Roberts, Stevens and replacement wing Harrison Ashby.Evans added one more conversion.
“It was a tremendous win by the lads. Any victory at Whitchurch is a good one and I’m particularly delighted after the front row issues we’ve had in the last couple of weeks,” said the Cowbridge director of rugby, Dai Griffiths.
“The back line needed to get up and running and, once they did, they began to relax and by the end of the game they were in full flow. We’ve got plenty of pace out wide.
“This is a young squad with a lot of first-year sixth formers, but this game has proved we can compete at this level. My aspiration at the start of the season was for a mid-table spot in the top tier and I think we can achieve that.
“We have to go and beat Bridgend College to confirm our place in the top league and we know they will be provide a real test because they have a different style of play. This is a really competitive league that is very physical.”
Cardiff & Vale College were always in control of their match against Landrillo at the BT Sport Arms Park, triumhing 35-12. The home side dominated the first half and shot out to a 28-0 lead thanks to tries by Ben Thomas, James Bartlett and Dafydd Smith.
Thomas added two penalties with Tony Lamerton also knocking over a conversion. Winger Elis Roberts outstripped the cover defence to register the first try for Llandrillo just after the interval.
Hooker Rhys Pomeroy powered over shortly afterwards for a converted try, but victory was sealed for Cardiff & Vale when Tom Meehan danced his way over from close range.
Ysgol Glantaf found the reining champions, Coleg y Cymoedd, too hot to handle on Merthyr RFC’s new 4G pitch at The Wern, where they were beaten 59-10. Cymoedd won their opening game 49-12 against Llandrillo and once again look like being among the favourites this season.
Their latest big win came despite the absence of director of rugby Clive Jones, who is recovering from a neck operation. However, he received regular updates from the game and was delighted with another victory.
“We’ve had too good wins to start the campaign, although one of our centres, Rhys Davies, picked up a bump. We are a good open play side and were able to run in a number of tries when the game opened up later on,” said Jones.
“We’re probably not as strong up front this year although, that said, last year’s team is probably one of the best Under 18 teams I’ve ever seen with six Wales Under 18 caps. We’ve got eight or nine of last year’s group back.”
Last year’’s beaten finalists, Coleg Sir Gar, also made it two out of two to secure their place in the top tier with a 29-3 win over Neath & Port Talbot College at Llandarcy. They beat Newport HS 35-8 in their opening fixture.
Sam Evans kicked the home side into a 3-0 with a penalty after 14 minutes, but that ended up being their only score of the game. After that Sir Gar settled down into their normal routine and were 17-3 ahead by the break.
Centre Cameron Collins crossed for two tries and Scott Lloyd converted the second. Then No 8 Gethin Davies powered over to complete the first half scoring.
It didn’t help the home cause when Tiaan Wheeler picked up a yellow card for a fracas just before the break and they also lost Iwan Shenton late on in the game for an early tackle. To their credit, Neath & Port Talbot they managed to keep Sir Gar at bay for long periods in the second half.
But, in the end, two tries in the final 10 minutes gave the scoreboard a different look. Wing Gino Setaro and replacement Garan Williams made it five tries in the end and Lloyd added a second conversion.
Head coach Euros Evans claimed “the performance was pretty poor, but the result satisfactory” and is hoping for better things to come as they try to overtake Cymoedd.
There’s been a good batch of players coming through and we have a few U16 internationals in the team. They have confidence and a lot of potential, with maybe a few future Scarlets players among them, but as a team they need to be performing better,” said Evans.
“After today’s bonus point win we’re straight into the top six, so there’s no pressure for next week. E want to be competitive gain, but if we carry on playing like that then we won’t be making the final again.”
It was a second successive defeat for Neath & Port Talbot, who lost at Gower College in the opening round. They now have to pick themselves up to try to beat Newport HS next week.
While the Neath & Port Talbot coach Max Howells was pleased that his side had “shown a lot of heart” and had “really dug in”, the regional Schools Development Officer, former Ospreys and Wales prop Duncan Jones, highlighted the difference between Under 16 and Under 18 level rugby.
“There were frustrating elements of the game, but Sir Gar are a quality team. There were some pleasing aspects and the team is improving, which is a good sign,” said Jones.
“It wasn’t the result we were hoping for, but U18 rugby is very different from U16. This will have been an eye opener for the boys, but it’s all good experience.
“We have a core group of second years and some new boys coming through from secondary schools. This shows that the secondary schools are producing some quality players.”
Gower College followed up their 32-26 home win over Neath & Port Talbot College with an even tighter triumph over Newport HS at St Helen’s. In a game in which each side scored six tries, Gower raced into a 19-0 lead in the first half.
But by half-time Newport HS had clawed their way back into the contest with three tries of their own to trail 26-17. They then picked up the pace at the start of the second half and worked their way into a 34-26 lead with three more unanswered tries.
That tested the mettle of their hosts, who once again rose to the challenge and conjured up two more tries to regain the lead and emerge triumphant. There was also a big win for Pembrokeshire College at Llandovery College, 57-14.
WRU Under 18 Midweek League – 14 September
Cardiff & Vale College 35, Coleg Llandrillo 12
Gower College 38, Newport HS 34
Llandovery College 14, Pembrokeshire College 57
Neath & Port Talbot College 3, Coleg Sir Gar 20
Whitchurch HS 3, Cowbridge CS 29
Ysgol Glantaf 12, Coleg Y Cymoedd 59
