Last season’s runners-up returned from north Wales with an impressive 43-28 win over Coleg Llandrillo to keep their noses in front of reigning champions Coleg Y Cymoedd. They ran in seven tries, but conceded four as the Gogs gave them a real run for their money.
Llandrillo fought their way back to within a point on the hour when Owen Randell crossed for their final try and the outstanding Sam Earl-Jones added the conversion to make it 29-28. It then took two tries from replacements Luke Davies and Rhodri King to see Sir Gar home in a thrilling contest.
Whitchurch HS head north to meet Llandrillo this week and will be hoping for similar success following their long road trip to Tenby last Wednesday, where they picked up a 44-36 win over Pembrokeshire College. Scrum half Jake MacPherson was the Whitchurch match winner with 19 points as he scored a try, kicked two penalties and added four conversions.
There were also two tries from No 8 Emyr Jones, the latter making victory safe after the home side had moved into a 36-25 lead with 10 minutes to play thanks to three tries without reply in the second half.
Whitchurch led 22-21 at the break, but Dom Davies, Iwan Bowden and Osian Davies crossed for tries for Pembrokeshire and it looked as though they were going to come out on top. But then came the rearguard action from the visitors, with MacPherson leading the revival with a try.
His conversion cut the gap to four points before centre Dylan Jones crashed over for his side’s fifth try to regain the lead. MacPherson added another conversion before Jones rounded off proceedings with try number six.
There was also a dramatic finish at Ystrad Mynach, in the Dragons derby clash between Gwent College and Newport HS, where wing Carrick McDonnough crossed in the 65th minute to edge Gwent College into the lead.
Dylan Davies and Ewan Rosser had earlier scored tries and Jake Morgan converted them all. Newport HS had tries from Oliver Howard and Dylan Bartlett, both of which Will Reed converted and added a penalty.
Gwent College head to Gower College in round three, while Newport HS entertain Pembrokeshire College. Gower will be hoping for better fortunes than last week when they conceded eight tries in a 54-0 hammering at Llandovery College.
Llandovery No 8 Liam Wheeler and wing Sam Court both scored twice and outside half Jack Evans knocked over six conversions. They head to Cardiff to face Ysgol Glantaf this week.
Glantaf warmed up with six tries in their 40-15 win over Neath Port Talbot College at The Gnoll last week. The home side raced into a 10 point lead, but were then hit by a 26 point salvo that turned the game on its head.
Locking the scrum for Glantaf was Wales Under 18 second row Teddy Williams, who made his Cardiff Blues A debut as a second half replacement against Munster A last weekend at the tender age of 17.
Neath Port Talbot College travel to face Bridgend College in round three. Bridgend were beaten 38-10 by Coleg Y Cymoedd in round two as the reigning champions made it two bonus-point wins in a row with left wing Cavan Davies helping himself to an impressive hat-trick.
WELSH SCHOOLS & COLLEGES LEAGUE – ROUND 3
Tuesday, 2 October
Coleg Sir Gar v Cardiff & Vale College (Llandovery, 7.30pm)
Wednesday, 3 October
Bridgend College v Neath Port Talbot College (Bridgend College, 2.30pm)
Coleg Llandrillo v Whitchurch HS (Parc Eirias, 2.30pm)
Gower College v Coleg Gwent (Loughor, 2.30pm)
Newport HS v Pembrokeshire College (Newport HS, 2.30pm)
Ysgol Glantaf v Llandovery College (Glantaf, 2.30pm)
ROUND 2 RESULTS
Tuesday, 25 September
Coleg Gwent 21 – 17 Newport HS
Coleg Y Cymoedd 38 – 10 Bridgend College
Wednesday, 26 September
Coleg Llandrillo 28 – 43 Coleg Sir Gar
Pembrokeshire College 36 – 44 Whitchurch High School
Llandovery College 54 – 0 Gower College
Neath Port Talbot College 15 – 40 Ysgol Glantaf
