Jump to main content

Super Selby is Swansea Valley’s four try hero

Super Selby is Swansea Valley’s four try hero

Swansea Valley celebrate their success in winning the Morgan Griffiths Plate

Alfie Selby did what many few players have ever done as he scored an incredible four tries in a match at the Principality Stadium as he steered Swansea Valley Schools to a 34-24 victory over Carmarthen Schools 3to carry off the the U15 Morgan Griffiths Plate.

Share this page:

Remarkably, three of the right-wing’s strikes came from his willingness to chase kicks. He notched a hat-trick in five minutes in the first half and his fourth came when he reacted quickest to a dropped ball and pounced once again.

It was Carmarthen who had opened the scoring with full-back Rhys Jones going over unopposed wide out after being put away by passes from Carwyn Legatt-Jones and centre Gethin Davies. Outside-half Legatt-Jones converted for a 7-0 lead.

Swansea hit back with a cracker of a try. Outside-half Gruff Peters swivelled, before stabbing a kick behind the defence. It bounced kindly for Selb, who took it on the burst to steam over for an unconverted score to trim the deficit to two points.

Nicholas Frisk-Jones put Swansea into the lead with a penalty, which was awarded after Carmarthen offended at a ruck. They extended it to eight points after winning a turnover when Selby pounced on a kick ahead from centre Iestyn Loughor for his second try. Frisk-Jones, son of former Wales captain and British & Irish Lions scrum-half Robert Jones, converted.

They were at it a minute later, from another turnover. Loughor kicked long and the ball bounced up for a delighted Selby to complete his hat-trick. Skipper Frisk-Jones failed with the conversion but they were 20-7 to the good.

Carmarthen needed to score next and did with accurate passing by Legatt-Jones and full-back Ashton Crook enabling left-wing Ellis Jones to get outside Selby and round Rhys Jones for the try. Leggat-Jones converted and added a penalty for them to go into half-time just three points behind.

Selby got his fourth, after honing in to a dropped ball from Alfie Jones, hacking on and winning the race to the ball for the accomplished Frisk-Jones to convert to stretch the Swansea Valey lead to 10 points.

It continued to be end to end rugby with hooker Tomos Axford on the end of a driving line-out, Legatt-Jones converting beautifully to once again  close the gap to three points.

Carmarthen defended desperately to keep Swansea at bay, then went down the other end with right-wing Will Evans being halted just short by an illegal, high tackle. Referee Kyle Lewis awarded a penalty but it could easily have been a penalty try as the line was at the mercy of Evans.

They failed to go over from the tap-penalty that followed and had a couple of other opportunities, which they failed to take. Swansea eventually broke away with flanker Jack O’Malley-Jones forcing his way over for a fifth try, which was splendidly converted by Frisk-Jones.

Carmarthen Schools: Tries: R Jones, E Jones, T Axford; Cons: C Legatt-Jones 3; Pen; C Legatt-Jones.
Swansea Valley Schools: Tries: A Selby 4, J O’Malley-Jones; Cons: N Frisk-Jones 3; Pen; N Frisk-Jones.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY . . .  Swansea Schools coach Craig Jones

“We are thrilled to have won the game. It was very close with a fantastic standard of rugby on show. For Alfie Selby to get four tries was a tremendous achievement, and he’s a year young so can play next season.

“It’s brilliant the WRU allow us to play here, perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity for some of our players. This festival is a fabulous opportunity to showcase the community game and the good work the WRU does at this level.

“We wanted to win it for our secretary Gwynfor Davies, who has given 60 years of service to Swansea Valley Schools.”

Gwynfor Davies

“I started as secretary in 1964 but am handing the baton over. I’m 85 now and have groomed some great coaches and players. Justin Tipuric was in one of our teams which won, Owen Williams was on the losing side on another occasion and Joe Hawkins is the most recent Wales international to have come through Swansea Valley Schools.”

U15 Morgan Griffiths Plate Final Teams

Carmarthen Schools: Rhys Jones (Bro Myrddin); Will Evans (Queen Elizabeth HS), Gethin Davies (Bro Myrddin), Rhydian John (Queen Elizabeth HS), Ellis Jones (Bro Myrddin); Carwyn Legatt-Jones (Queen Elizabeth HS), Logan McDermott (Dyffryn Taf); Iago Ap Dafydd (Bro Myrddin), Tomos Axford (Bro Myrddin), Will Ford (Dyffryn Taf), Oscar Howells (Queen Elizabeth HS), Callum Goeman (Dyffryn Taf), Tomos Parry (Bro Myrddin), Owain Edwards (Bro Myrddin), Charlie Cullen Thomas (Bro Myrddin)Reps: Oscar Robers, Will Jones (both Bro Myrddin), Glyn Bevan (Dyffryn Taf), Lloyd Wilkins-Jones (Bro Myrddin), Charlie Reynolds (Dyffryn Taf), Ioan Thomas (Bro Myrddin), Freddie Davies (Dyffryn Taf), Gethin Morgan (Ysgol Bro Myrddin).

Swansea Valley Schools: Ashton Crook (YG Ystalyfera); Alfie Selby (YG Ystalyfera), Oliver Morgan (Maesydderwen), Iestyn Loughor (YG Ystalyfera), Issac Davies (YG Ystalyfera); Gruff Peters (YG Ystalyfera), Nicholas Frisk-Jones (YG Ystalyfera, captain); Brodie Davies (YG Ystalyfera), Evan Davies (Cwmtawe), Zach Llewellyn (YG Ystalyfera), Jack Harris-Barfoot (YG Ystalyfera), Owain Evans-Taylor (YG Ystalyfera), Jack O’Malley-Jones (Y Maesydderwen), Jayden Knight (YG Ystalyfera), Freddie Millward (YG Ystalyfera)Reps: Brandon James (Maesydderwen), Morgan Davies (Maesydderwen), Cian Chesby (YG Ystalyfera), Darrius James (Cwmtawe), Theo Richards (Maesydderwen), Aled Evans (YG Ystalyfera), Morgan Penhale (YG Ystalyfera), Kobi Scott (YG Ystalyfera)

Partners and Suppliers

Principal Partners
Principality
Official Broadcast Partners
BBC Cymru/Wales
S4C
Official Partners
Heineken
Isuzu
Guinness