Last weekend saw some thrilling action in the women’s and girls’ competitions and it is hoped for more enthralling rugby in the three male youth showdowns.
The WRU National Youth U18 Bowl Final is first up at 1pm when Caerphilly face Llangwm. It is followed by the National Youth U18 Plate Final between Ammanford and Burry Port with the National Youth U18 Cup final featuring Carmarthen Quins and Tondu
1pm: WRU National Youth U18 Bowl Final – Caerphilly v Llangwm
Caerphilly have inside knowledge on the condition of the pitch because their coach Rhys Cleverly is a groundsman at Principality Stadium!
He said: “It is in very good shape. We have had sun and rain this week and we have done some repairs since last weekend’s women’s finals.
“It will be strange coming out on Friday as coach instead of groundsman. I know this pitch like the back of my hand so, hopefully, I can use it to our advantage.
“The team have been working hard and all the boys are fired up and eager to play at the stadium. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Caerphilly are top of the Dragons Two Youth League and are chasing a double. Full-back Ryan Williams is a Wales U18 rugby league international and is on the books of Super League side Salford Reds in the 13-a-side code while scrum-half Carter Pritchard is the grandson of former league star Gordon Pritchard.
They face Llangwm, who are the oldest village team in Pembrokeshire with a population of 2,336 at the most recent census. Club secretary Richard Scriven expects most to make the trip to Cardiff for the biggest day in the club’s history.
“I think the whole village is going,” he said. “There’s about 300 travelling by bus, others are going by car and some by train.
Llangwm, which is on the Cleddau Estuary about four miles from Haverfordwest, dates back to the Stone Age and was settled by Flemish migrants in the 12th century.
“Ninety per cent of the boys have been with us since U7s,” said Scriven. “When we got to U16s, it fell apart a bit as some went to football. But, when Macron began to sponsor the WRU, they offered a free kit to senior men, women and youth teams.
“We said we’d start a youth team in order to get the kit and we’ve got to the final in only our second season and are looking forward to it immensely.”
Road To The Bowl Final
25 March 2023 – Semi Final
Llangwm 24 14 Bryncoch
Mumbles 12 23 Caerphilly
4 March 2023 – Quarter Final
Caerphilly 31 17 Glynneath
Dolgellau 11 15 Llangwm
3 December 2022 – Round 3
Caerphilly 14 8 Senghenydd
St Julians HSOB 17 18 Llangwm
29 October 2022 – Round 2
Caerphilly w/o v Dinbych
Llangwm 18 14 Carmarthen Athletic
15 October 2022 – Round 1
Llangwm 24 5 Waunarlwydd
3.15pm: WRU National Youth U18 Plate Final – Ammanford v Burry Port
This is the second week in a row a team from Burry Port has appeared at the Principality Stadium. Last weekend Burry Port Ladies took on Whitland in the Women’s Plate final, losing the lead in the dying minutes.
The club has also appeared in a men’s final at the ground so head east hoping their Youth team will break the duck. Burry Port are third in the Scarlets Carmarthenshire West Youth League and are on an 11 match winning streak with their last defeat occurring on October 8.
Burry Port edged out Bargoed by a point in the semi-finals, with a penalty from captain, centre and Wales U18 squad member Gabe McDonald, proving the difference.
“It was a good game and we are expecting another tough one in the final. A lot of our boys played at the stadium recently for Strade in a Schools final.
“Our supporters are heading to Cardiff for the second week in a row and we have put three buses on for them.”
Davies’ son Jac, a scrum-half, has delayed his departure for a school skiing holiday in Austria in order to play. His father has booked him a ticket to fly to Salzburg on Saturday to join his friends on the piste.”
Ammanford Team manager Chris Mayes said: “This team has been together since junior rugby. There’s no big stars, they are just a bunch of lads from the Amman Valley. We have had a mixed season but they boys have lifted themselves for every game in the cup.
“We want to win and believe we are capable of it. It’s going to be a huge day for the boys and the club, a day they will never forget. To have the opportunity of running out at the Principality Stadium in front of family and friends is something else.
“We have had some tough matches to get here but are looking forward to playing on a big and wide pitch as we like to run with the ball.”
Road To The Plate Final
25 March 2023 – Semi Final
Bargoed 22 23 Burry Port
Builth Wells 24 28 Ammanford
4 March 2023 – Quarter Final
Bonymaen 12 17 Ammanford
Burry Port 62 20 Porthcawl
3 December 2022 – Round 3
Gwernyfed 0 52 Ammanford
Penarth 13 28 Burry Port
29 October 2022 – Round 2
Ammanford 36 17 Cornelly & Kenfig Hill
Bro Ffestiniog 12 60 Burry Port
15 October 2022 – Round 1
Burry Port 29 11 Mountain Ash
Cowbridge 20 21 Ammanford
5.30pm: National Youth U18 Cup Final – Carmarthen Quins v Tondu
Carmarthen Quins have the sons of well-known faces in their ranks and directing them on the training pitch.
Former Wales wing or full-back Wayne Proctor is coach with son Ben Proctor captaining them from No.15 while Steffan and Osian Jones, the sons of ex-Wales lock Deiniol Jones, are also in their match-day squad.
Jones senior is also a member of the coaching team as Quins appear in their third final but the first for about 20 years after reaching it the hard way.
They squeezed through their semi-final with Barry, it was even closer in their quarter-final with Machen, they went through on a superior try count after drawing at Rhiwbina in round one and edged out Newcastle Emlyn away by a point in the opening round.
“We have had some tight matches but are unbeaten domestically this season. Our only defeat came against a touring side from Argentina, who were a year or two older,” said Youth secretary Keith Jones.
“We don’t know an awful lot about Tondu but we are in fine fettle and it’s going to take a good team to beat us.”
But Tondu have other ideas with coach Graham Thomas declaring: “We have had a great season. We lost to an interception try to South Gower in the Ospreys Cup final but that has made us stronger and tighter as a group.
Former Llanelli flanker Ian Boobyer is part of the coaching set-up and his son Jack is on the wing. The message from Thomas was clear, saying: “Our hope is to play as well as we have in previous rounds. If we do that, it will take a very good side to get the better of us.”
Road To The National Cup Final
25 March 2023 – Semi Final
Carmarthen Quins 14 10 Barry
Tondu 25 0 Gorseinon
4 March 2023 – Quarter Final
Carmarthen Quins 22 20 Machen
Tondu 39 5 Bethesda
3 December 2022 – Round 2
Ebbw Vale 7 35 Tondu
Rhiwbina 29 29 Carmarthen Quins
Carmarthen Quins won on try count
29 October 2022 – Round 1
Newcastle Emlyn 21 22 Carmarthen Quins
Tondu 26 11 Treorchy
BOWL FINAL TEAMS
Caerphilly: Ryan Williams; Jake Marsden, Lloyd Nash, Harrison Parsons, Thomas Amps; Tom Lewis, Carter Pritchard; Lewis Jones, Noah Evans (captain), Charlie Undery, Ioan Olsen, Rhodri Rees, Jack Llewellyn, Harvey Picton, Sam Graves
Reps: Kody Thomas, Lewis Griffiths, Etienne Hacket, Rowan Lyons, Liam Shaughnessy, Tyler Morris, Mackenzie Braddon, Jack Blunsdon
Llangwm: Harry Makepeace; Iwan Davies, Ieuan Gray, Fletcher Picton, Aaron John; Liam Rees, Ioan Hawkridge-Jones; Aled Rogers, Seb McIntosh, Charles Wilson, Seth Willington, Arwyn O’Loughlin (captain), Sam Rickwood, Dom Asson, Joe Phillips
Reps: Jake Thomas, Mathew Cole, Kieran Sinclair, Flynn Tjoonk, Owen Phelps, Alfie Elrick, Fergus Reynolds, Evan Thomas
PLATE FINAL TEAMS
Ammanford: Frazer Gregory; Lewis Thomas, Thomas Raybould, Tana Evans, Tom Davies; Sam Potter (captain), Jake Lewis; Osian Jones, Ieuan Phillips, Caleb John, Toby Davies, Puck Amelink, Emrys Davies, Aidan Watts, Josh Beswick
Reps: Toby Jenkins, Liam Morris, Iowan Thomas, Noah Potter, Connor Quinn, Steffan Wyn Williams
Burry Port: Caio Williams; Isaac Saer, Will Thomas, Gabe McDonald, Harvey Bryan; Harri Watts, Jac Davies; Finley Ellar, Llyr Rees, Jac Gaines, Sion Wells, Rhys Reed, Joe Gower, Will Hurley, Josh Price
Reps: Cai Howard, Osian Feltwell, Ieuan Calford, Llyr Davies, Sam Saltiel, Leon Bryan, Theo Bevan, Ryan Jones
CUP FINAL TEAMS
Carmarthen Quins: Ben Proctor (captain); Oli Hawke, Matthew Williams, Ifan Knott, Jac Thomas; Elis Thomas, Cai Thomas; Gruff Williams, Steffan Jones, Morgan Bending, Efan Parry, Josh Elvy, Owain Thomas, Guto Phillips, Dom Hammett
Reps: Ifan Freeman, Carwyn Thomas, Osian Jones, Gethin Davies, Dylan Rowe, Dylan Davies, Elis Price, Roan Smith
Tondu: Iestyn Williamson; Dylan Tippett, Shea Duggan, Sam Matthews, Jack Boobyer; Osian Yardley, Josh Payne; Alex George, Ellis Major (captain), Curtis Fry, Tyrell Nixon-Hall, Tyler Richards, Harry Griffiths, Sam Creber, Connor Jones
Reps: Charlie Edwards, Cai Phillips, John Thomas, Finley Jones, Jonny Evans, Harri Williams, Jarad Young, Dylan Parry
