It was Martyn Fowler’s side who came out on top in the end at Parc Y Scarlets as CAVC held onto the title they had won a year earlier against Llandovery College. Two tries in the dying embers of a thrill a minute final hauled the reigning champions back from the brink of defeat to make it a league and cup double for the second year in a row.
It was 20-20 with 17 minutes to go and there was still plenty of drama to come. Sir Gar attacked off the CAVC 22 and Matthew Williams came off his wing to weave a path past five defenders to score a try which Gabe McDonald converted.
McDonald then added a penalty to restore a 10-point gap with time running out. CAVC had to dig deep, deeper than ever before, and somehow managed to level things up with a penalty and then a try by lock Evan Saltmarsh, which was also converted.
At 30-30 the rules stated Sir Gar would be awarded the trophy on try count, 4-3, meaning CAVC needed to score again. They got into the Sir Gar 22 in the 72nd minute, identified space wide out on the right and managed to work the ball down the line for Lucas de le Rua to provide Evan Prosser with the scoring pass to make in 35-30 in the end.
Earlier in the season, Sir Gar had been the only side to beat CAVC in the league, a thrilling 26-25 triumph in the Welsh capital, and director of rugby Euros Evans is under no illusion as to how hard it will be to try to repeat that victory in the top Conference of the re-vamped WSC Rugby competition.
“Martyn Fowler may have now left CAVC, but the legacy of his last 10 years in building up the rugby programme at the college remains. He did a terrific job in recruiting players and then taking them to the top of the league,” said Evans.
“We just missed out in last year’s final and we’ve got eight boys back for this season. There was a bit of pain in the wake of the final and that might be in the minds of those players.
“We had a tough opening game against Whitchurch HS and this will be a big test for us so early in the competition. Most of our pack have been playing with the Scarlets U18 side and Tiaan Sparrow is leading the team well from the back row.
“We’ve taken a look at CAVC’s opening 29-5 win over Coleg Llandrillo and they look to have gelled well under new coach Richard Whiffin.”
While the top two from last season slug it out in the S4C Rygbi Pawb televised game, earlier in the day two other title contenders will clash at Llandovery College. They host Ysgol Glantaf and both schools emerged with a title from finals day last year.
Glantaf overcome Coleg Y Cymoedd to win the Plate Final 24-12 and Llandovery College edged past Coleg Gwent to take the Bowl 40-31 at Ystrad Mynach. Glantaf kicked off their Conference A campaign last weekend with a spectacular 54-7 home win over Coleg Gwent, while Llandovery went to Cymoedd and won 37-16.
“It should be a great game, and we are going to find out a lot about ourselves up there,” said Glantaf’s head coach, Llywarch ap Myrddin.
“We had a good pre-season and we know that Llandovery have started well. We’ve got seven or eight players back from last year’s team and our forwards are a little bit bigger and stronger that a season ago.
“We were pleased to win the Plate final last year, but if we could capture the main title, it would be the biggest rugby achievement in the history of the school.”
Trying to help them reach that goal is former Scarlets and Wales utility back Rhys Patchell, who has been involved in the coaching alongside Ap Myrddin. Hooker Iestyn Thomas is captaining the side and Josef Jones picked up a hat-trick in the eight try demolition of Coleg Gwent, while scrum half Sion Davies got a brace.
Whitchurch HS host Cymoedd in round two, while Gwent head north to face Coleg Llandrillo.
In Conference B, only Ysgol Ystalyfera of the three new teams in the expanded, 16 team competition, came up with a win in the opening round. They won 27-12 at Bridgend College and will now host their first home game in Round 2 when they welcome Coleg Sir Benfro from Pembrokeshire.
Christ College, Brecon, who went down 31-10 at Gower College in their first fixture at this level, will welcome Bridgend College, while Ysgol Dyffryn Aman host Neath & Port Talbot College. Aman were beaten 48-26 by Newport HS on their debut last week
WSC RUGBY – ROUND 2
CONFERENCE A
Llandovery College v Ysgol Glantaf
Coleg Llandrillo v Coleg Gwent
Whitchurch HS v Coleg Y Cymoedd
Cardiff & Vale College v Coleg Sir Gar
CONFERENCE B
Ysgol Dyffryn Aman v Neath & Port Talbot College
Ysgol Ystalyfera v Coleg Sir Benfro
Christ College, Brecon v Bridgend College
Newport HS v Gower College
