Building on the confidence they picked up in holding off Llandovery College in the opening round, Euros Evans side ran in eight tries in a convincing win. Centre Rhys Harris crossed twice, as did replacement Dafydd Thomas.
“We dominated possession and probably left a few tries out there. It was a comfortable enough win in the end,” said Evans, Sir Gar’s director of rugby.
“We have a week off from the league next week and we are heading up to Millfield for what will be a great test for the team. The joy on the faces of the players after finally getting to play for the college over the last week has been the thing that has struck me most.
“They all had to spend so much time away from training and playing, but now they are looking to make up for lost time. It looks as though the Cardiff Rugby region have got the strongest sides this season and we will have to improve as we go along before hopefully going on to meet them in the latter stages.”
Reigning champions Coleg Y Cymoedd were forced to fight all the way at Sardis Road before finally suppressing a much improved Whitchurch HS side. Their 32-22 win was sealed with an interception try at the death as Whitchurch tried to break out from their own line in a bold bid to win the game.
“It was a much improved performance from our 54-0 defeat to Cardiff & Vale College. We went into that game hoping to score four tires, but didn’t get any,” said Whitchurch HS head coach, Steve Williams.
“This time we managed to score four against the champions and pushed them hard. The boys really stepped up.”
Cymoedd’s foying wing Dafydd Walsh opend the scoring in the second minute with the first of the game’s nine tries, but Whitchurch prop Max Bignell hit back to level. It was nip and tuck throughout and Cymoedd prop Kian Mattravers regained the lead with a try that Jacob Symes converted.
Luca Longe scampered over to once again cut the gap before home scrum half Chad Powell added a third try. Symes then kicked a penalty to open up a 10 point gap as Cymoedd realised they were in a ferocious contest.
Whitchurch centre Danny Willis thundered over for his side’s third try, closely followed by opposite number Sam Harris as Cymoedd maintained their 10 point advantage. The visitors simply wouldn’t go away and when scrum half and captain Carson James notched a fourth try, this time converted by half back partner Ben Spittle, they were back to within three points as the game moved into its final act.
Brave to the end, Whitchurch tried to break out from their own line as they went for the score they needed to cause a major upset, but there lying in wait was Mason Brabon, who intercepted and raced to the line for a try that Llewellyn Brown improved to ensure Cymoedd were safe.
There was even more drama at Newport HS where the home side shared 83 points and 13 tries with visiting Llandrillo College. The north Walians actually led 40-29 a mere 10 minutes into the second half after Caio Parry had scored his side’s sixth try.
But Rob Sidoli’s home team composed themselves and hit back with two late tries to just edge out their visitors. They took full advantage of a second yellow card for Llandrillo issued to replacement prop Emyr Jones in the 58th minute.
Two tries in the opening eight minutes from No 8 Tal Taylor and centre Cain Jones, both converted by Tom Jarman, gave Llandrillo a flying start and a 14 point lead. Wing Hussan Ali and a penalty try eased Newport HS back into the equation before the visitors struck again through centre Tomos Hughes.
Two tries in a five minute purple patch then allowed Newport HS to finally hit the front. Lock Gethyn Cannon crashed over for the first and then centre Luca Natale grabbed another, which outside half Joe Henry improved.
That made it 22-21, but Llandrillo were in no mood to sit back. Just before the break Hughes scored his second try and Jarman’s conversion meant the visitors led 28-24 at half-time. It was still anyone’s game and when Llandrillo made it 40-29 it looked as though they could notch a famous away win.
But Newport HS came on strong at the end and Natale’s second try, and a clincher from Louie Pullen, edged them back in front as Henry landed two more conversions to seal a 43-40 victory.
Cardiff & Vale College centre Harrison James added to his growing reputation as he scored two tries and 16 points in all as his side overcame Ysgol Glantaf in a hard-fought 21-12 win. He converted No 8 Lucas De La Rua’s early try to give his side the lead, but it was 7-7 at half-time after Glantaf hit back with a try from wing Tom Weekly that Harri Wilde improved.
The second half saw James run in two tries, both of which he converted, while full back Jac Davies added a second for the visitors.
