Their 17-14 victory took them to within two points of the league leaders as they imposed only the second defeat of the season on the west Walians this season. They also have a game in hand on the team they beat 29-10 in last season’s final.
There was drama to the end in a high-quality contest with Sir Gar’s replacement scrum half Dai Jones almost winning the game five minutes from time. He took the ball from a driving maul and sped down the blindside before diving for the right corner.
He reached the line, but lost the ball in the act of scoring and Cymoedd were awarded a scrum. They cleared their lines and hung on for another major triumph.
Watch Here: Jones Knock On
Sir Gar got off to a flying start when their inspirational skipper Sam Williams drove over from close range after his back row colleague Lewis Clayton had carried up to within a few metres. Bradley Roderick added the extras and it was first blood to the visitors in the biggest college derby in Wales.
Watch Here: Williams Try
The reply from the champions didn’t take long to arrive. From a scrum five metres out six minutes later the home side’s first raid was held up, but there was no stopping skipper Ieuan Pring from blasting his way over for a try that outside half Tyler Morris converted.
Watch Here: Pring Try
Cymoedd then struck a vital blow with the last move of the half to go into the break with the lead. From a ruck on half way, Morris chipped over the top, regathered on the Sir Gar 10 metre line and released out of the back to his midfield.
Wing Iwan Price Thomas carried on the move into the 22, where he stepped inside two defenders before passing inside to the supporting back row man Ethan Fackrell for a brilliant score. Morris’ conversion made it 14-7 at the interval.
Watch Here: Fackrell Try
A Morris penalty early in the second half extended the gap to 10 points, but Sir Gar weren’t finished. From a scrum on their 10 metres line they worked the ball to the left wing where Harrison Button showed off his speed and footwork to outflank the defence in a thrilling touchline run that ended with him scoring in the corner.
The touchline conversion made it a three point game and Sir Gar thought must have thought they were going to win it when they turned a five metre line-out into a driving maul with Williams in control at the back. Jones went for the killer blow, but fatally lost control as he dived in at the right corner.
Ysgol Glantaf, the only team to have beaten Cymoedd this season, will go top if they can turn home advantage into an eighth win in 10 matches when they host Newport HS today (Wednesday, 28 November). Fourth placed Cardiff & Vale College head to The Gnoll to meet Neath Port Talbot College.
Welsh Schools & Colleges League – Round 9
Tuesday, 27 November
Coleg Y Cymoedd 17 – 14 Coleg Sir Gar
Wednesday, 28 November
Bridgend College v Whitchurch HS (Bridgend College, 2.30pm)
Gwent College v Pembrokeshire College (Gwent College, 2.30pm)
Llandovery College v Coleg Llandrillo (Llandovery College, 2.30pm)
Neath Port Talbot College v Cardiff & Vale College (The Gnoll, 2.30pm)
Ysgol Glantaf v Newport HS (Glantaf, 2.30pm)
