They had a gem in Wales U19 squad member Gabe McDonald, who always seemed to have time on the ball and the ability to back it up. He scored a try, and was successful with five conversions and two penalties for a 21-point haul.
But it wasn’t just about the centre as Burry Port played some lovely rugby and ran some super patterns and angles to sweep aside Ammanford in the basking Cardiff sun.
A first-half salvo of four tries, with 19 of those points coming from McDonald for a 34-3 lead, had seemingly put the game beyond their opponents, who had struggled for continuity and confidence.
Burry Port had flown out of the starting blocks with McDonald powering through the Ammanford midfield for the opening try before adding the conversion for a seven-point advantage.
They remained in the ascendancy with McDonald adding another three points with a sweetly-struck penalty. Ammanford took time to settle with outside-half and skipper Sam Potter opening their account with a penalty.
However, McDonald restored a 10-point advantage for Burry Port with his second successful penalty. Their No.8 Josh Price burst off the back of a scrum to make an arcing run. Two rucks later McDonald was putting midfield partner Will Thomas over for a converted try.
🏉 SGÔR TERFYNOL | FT@BurryPortYouth win, defeating @Ammanford_Rugby 17-41 and celebrate with the WRU Youth Plate Trophy delivered by Ieuan Evans! 🏆
👏 Llongyfarchiadau#WelshRugby | #RoadToPrincipality pic.twitter.com/tPzF9MB92r
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) April 7, 2023
The potent centre combination combined less than two minutes later for second row Rhys Reed to go over, McDonald again converting to take his points tally to 17.
Mobile prop Jac Gaines got their next try for a 31-point advantage at the interval, with a pick and go from the base of a ruck, McDonald converting.
Ammanford finally managed to string some passes together for prop Osian Jones to open their try account, Potter converting. But they failed to deal with the restart, allowing Burry Port to respond with Gaines getting his second try with a surge on the blindside of a ruck.
McDonald converted from close to the touchline to increase his tally to 21 but they lost their way afterwards with victory already a formality.
Ammanford never gave up and had a creative attacker in full-back Frazer Gregory. He went close to getting a try following a loop from Potter but was bundled into touch by the covering McDonald.
However, they were rewarded for their efforts with Jones burrowing his way over for his second score. Substitute Noah Potter got a third, Sam Potter converting as they out-scored Burry Port in the second half.
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.
Subs: Toby Jenkins, Liam Morris, Iowan Thomas, Noah Potter, Connor Quinn, Steffan Wyn Williams.
Tries: Jones (2), N Potter; cons: S Potter (3); pen: S Potter.
Burry Port: Caio Williams; Isaac Saer, Will Thomas, Gabe McDonald (captain), Harvey Bryan; Harri Watts, Jac Davies; Finley Ellar, Llyr Rees, Jac Gaines, Sion Wells, Rhys Reed, Joe Gower, Will Hurley, Josh Price.
Subs: Cai Howard, Osian Feltwell, Ieuan Calford, Sam Saltiel, Llyr Davies, Leon Bryan, Theo Bevan, Ryan Jones.
Tries: McDonald, Thomas, Reed, Gaines (2); cons: McDonald (5); pens: McDonald (2).
