Conditions were testing to say the least when the two teams clashed yesterday at the Wales Centre of Excellence in Hensol. Not only did the two teams have to deal with driving rain, the greasy surface made handling difficult.
To their credit both teams attempted to play running rugby but the slippery ball made ball retention difficult.
Fly half Matthew Lewis gave Coleg Gwent a 3-0 lead at the break with a penalty to leave the match delicately poised at the break.
Whitchurch’s back three of Will Young, Kane Teear-Bourge and Toby Champ were constant threats in the second half but their willingness to run from all angles come to nothing as ball retention became a major issue for both sides in the trying conditions.
Whitchurch continued to remain in the hunt until the dying stages when Ruari O’Flynn’s cross field kick was skilfully reclaimed by Lewis who dived over in the corner. O’Flynn’s sideline conversion hammered home the final nail into Whitchurch’s coffin.
Coleg Gwent Head of Rugby, Matthew Jones, said: “The win was the most important thing, as the victory puts us into the top competition.
“We left it until the 70th minute but that is what it is all about at this level, you have to stay in the game for the full 70 minutes. I think our defence won us the game, we were strong and didn’t give away as many penalties this week – and our kickers put us in the right areas.
“We don’t make teams work hard to get out of their 22 but I thought we did that much better against Whitchurch – it’s just a pity today we couldn’t execute as well as we could as we know we are a very good team and this weather was a bit of a spoiler.”
WRU U18 Wednesday League – Cup draw
05/10/2016
Coleg Gwent v Cowbridge
Coleg Y Cymoedd v Gower College
PSRA v Coleg Sir Gar
12/10/2016
Coleg Sir Gar v Coleg Y Cymoedd
Gower College v Coleg Gwent
Cowbridge v CAVC
19/10/2016
Coleg Y Cymoedd v CAVC
PSRA v Cowbridge
Coleg Sir Gar v Gower College
09/11/2016
Gower College v PSRA
Cowbridge v Coleg Y Cymoedd
CAVC v Coleg Gwent
16/11/2016
PSRA v Coleg Gwent
Coleg Sir Gar v CAVC
Gower College v Cowbridge
23/11/2016
Cowbridge v Coleg Sir Gar
CAVC v PSRA
Coleg Gwent v Coleg Y Cymoedd
30/11/2016
CAVC v Gower College
Coleg Gwent v Coleg Sir Gar
Coleg Y Cymoedd v PSRA
07/12/2016
FINALS DAY
WRU U18 Wednesday League – Trophy draw
05/10/2016
Whitchurch HS v Glantaf
NPTC v Bridgend College
Newport HS v Coleg Llandrillo
12/10/2016
Coleg Llandrillo v NPTC
Bridgend College v Whitchurch HS
Glantaf v Llandovery College
19/10/2016
Newport HS v Glantaf
Coleg Llandrillo v Bridgend College
02/11/2016
NPTC v Llandovery College (Rearranged fixture)
09/11/2016
Bridgend College v Newport HS
Glantaf v NPTC
Llandovery College v Whitchurch HS
16/11/2016
Newport HS v Whitchurch HS
Coleg Llandrillo v Llandovery College
Bridgend College v Glantaf
23/11/2016
Glantaf v Coleg Llandrillo
Llandovery College v Newport HS
Whitchurch HS v NPTC
30/11/2016
Llandovery College v Bridgend College
Whitchurch HS v Coleg Llandrillo
NPTC V Newport HS
07/12/2016
FINALS DAY
