It is the game that everyone suspected – the fifth final in a row between the two teams – even though Euros Evans’s Llanelli-based side managed to beat their conquerors in last season’s showpiece event on their own patch. That 20-5 victory in October was part of a six-match unbeaten run by Sir Gar to a magnificent seventh straight final.
But while Sir Gar were able to take the title three times, they were beaten in 2015 and 2016 by Cymoedd. Will there be a different outcome this year?
“Sir Gar have pushed us in recent seasons and they beat us fair and square earlier in the season. We were out on
our own last season with one of the best school teams with which I have ever been involved, but it looks like being a much closer competition this season,” said Cymoedd head coach Clive Jones.
Having lost to Sir Gar, and been beaten in qualifying by Cardiff & Vale College, Cymoedd have settled in the second half of the season and ensured their return to the final with two thumping wins in their final outings. They beat Coleg Gwent 86-24 away and then completed their league programme with a 92-5 home triumph over Pembrokeshire College.
The Cup Final between the top two College sides in Wales will be preceded by the Midweek League Trophy Final between Ysgol Glantaf and Newport HS. When the two sides met in the regular season it was Newport HS who came out on top 29-17 on home soil.
One of the many Wales Under 18 internationals on display on finals day will be the Sir Gar wing Ryan Conbeer. He has already made eight appearances for Llanelli n the Principality Premiership this season and has scored three tries, two of them coming against Cardiff last weekend.
The 17-year-old played and scored in last season’s 44-24 defeat to Cymoedd and will meet up again with Eddie Francis, Iestyn Harris, Tom Stacey and Alun Lawrence, who are both back for the champions.
WRU MIDWEEK UNDER 18 LEAGUE
Trophy Final
Newport HS v Ysgol Glantaf (BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, Kick-off 2.00pm)
Cup Final
Coleg Sir Gar v Coleg y Cymoedd (BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, Kick-off 4pm)
Left Over League Match
Gower College v Cowbridge CS (Swansea Uplands RFC, Kick-off 5.30pm)
TEAMS
CUP
Coleg Sir Gar: Harri Doel; Ryan Conbeer, Joe Roberts, Scott Lloyd, Tom Rogers; Llew Smith, Glenn Williams; Rhys Jones, Cameron Lewis, Llyr Green, Lewis Ellis-Jones (captain), Marcos Curtis, George David, Dan Davies, Gethin Davies
Reps: Drew Jones, Garan Williams, Adam Thomas, Kingsley Jones, Callum Jenkins, Dafydd Llewelyn, Gino Setaro, Cameron Lewis
Coleg y Cymoedd: Cole Swannack; George Thomas, Leon Davies, Eddie Francis, Liam Lloyd; Rhys Morgan, Jamie Hill; Declan Curtis, Iestyn Harris, Tom Stacey, Cian Lewis-Hughes, Callum James, Ioan Davies, Jack Perkins, Alun Lawrence (captain)
Reps: Ieuan Morris, Tom Devine, Ben Warren, Alex Meeson, Cerith Lloyd, Nathan Griffiths, Joe Vickers, Jack Shaddick
TROPHY
Newport HS: Reagon Mahoney; Rio Dyer, Corey Howells, Cyle Powell, James McCarthy; Lewis Hopkins, Dan Babos; Jamie Luckett, Ryan James, Josh Reynolds, Will Fishlock, Calum Hague, Liam Derrick, Harri Harding (captain), Lennon Greggains
Reps: Liam McQuaid, Tomos Workman, Luke Yendle, Luc Slocombe, Rhys Jones, Will Davidson, Eauan Morris, James Hanlon
Ysgol Glantaf: Tom James; Ioan Davies, Max Llewellyn, Sion O’Brien (captain), Drew Stephens; Jake Hillman, Rhodri Skyrme; Celyn Lewis, Ethan Williams, Adam Conway, Karlin Claridge, Gruff Roberts, Jay Jones, Rhys Morgans, Owen Jones
Reps: Owen Turner, Adam Shelley, Ewan Lynch, Tom Callow, Jake Burge, Dafydd Manley, Ioan Lloyd
Previous Finals
2010/11: Coleg Sir Gar 20, Coleg Gwent 19
2011/12: Coleg Sir Gar 16, Coleg Gwent 17
2012/13: Coleg Sir Gar 18, Coleg Morgannwg 16
2013/14: Coleg y Cymoedd (formerly Morgannwg) 22, Coleg Sir Gar 25
2014/15: Coleg y Cymoedd 13, Coleg Sir Gar
2015/16: Coleg y Cymoedd 44, Coleg Sir Gar 24
