Llandovery College extended their unbeaten record in Conference A to eight games with a 29-11 home win over reigning champions Cardiff & Vale College in the first of the semi-finals, and then Ysgol Glantaf joined them thanks to a 22-17 triumph over Coleg Sir Gar later in the day.
The two schools will now battle for the top title in U18 rugby in Wales at the home of Welsh rugby on Wednesday, 6 November in what will be the first day of finals in this season’s ‘Road to Principality’ series.
Llandovery are the only school side to have reached a final before, losing to CAVC at Principality Stadium three years ago, while Glantaf will be hoping to go one better than they did last season when they won the Plate title.
The Glantaf win at the Arms Park saw No 8 Tom Howe shine with a hat-trick of tries in a man of the match performance that showcased his huge potential. The grandson of former Maesteg, Bridgend and Wales B lock Billy Howe, should have been playing for the Cardiff Schools U16 team in the Dewar Shield this season, but has been ‘playing up’ with Glantaf.
Not only did he lock the scrum, and burgle three driving line-out tries, but he also threw into the line out in a nod to his former career as a hooker.
Sir Gar, who last won the title six years ago, got off to a flying start with a try from centre Oli Harris in only the second minute. Full back Ben Roberts was quick to respond and, with both tries being converted, it was 7-7 midway through the opening half.
Then Sir Gar, who had been beaten 24-20 in their league meeting against Glantaf, hit the front with a try from their outstanding back row man Alex Ridgway. Five minutes later, Howe grabbed his first try on the back of a powerful five metre drive to make it 12-12 at the break.
Tyler Davies gave the visitors an equally fast start to the second half with a try in the right corner before Howe’s second levelled things up at 17-17. His hat-trick came just short of the hour mark after Sir Gar had gone down to 14 men with Jake Bowen going to the sin-bin for encroaching on Glantaf scrum half Sion Davies within 10 metres at a penalty.
Davies’ half-back partner Lloyd Lucas kicked deep into the corner from the penalty and there was no stopping Howe as he completed his hat-trick with another driving line-out try that secured the victory for Iestyn Thomas’ side.
It was nip and tuck for the final 10 minutes, but Sir Gar were unable to find a way through to push for back-to-back finals.
CAVC and Sir Gar will now play-off for third place on Wednesday, 29 November, while Whitchurch HS and Coleg Llandrillo both secured their places in the top-tier next season by overcoming previous winners Coleg Gwent and Coleg Y Cymoedd in their relegation play-offs.
Whitchurch extended their unbeaten home run to four games with a seven try, 51-24 win over Gwent, while Llandrillo pipped Cymoedd 26-23. Whitchurch will welcome Llandrillo on 29 November to battle for fifth place.
Meanwhile, the Conference A relegation battle between Gwent and Cymoedd will take place at The Wern, Merthyr on 29 November (5.30pm kick-off). That will be followed by the promotion clash between unbeaten Gower College, who won their semi-final against Christ College, Brecon, 41-0 and Newport HS, who saw off Ysgol Ystalyfera 27-21.
Christ College and Ystalyfera will now meet to decide third place, while Bridgend College and Ysgol Dyffryn Aman will battle it out for fifth place. Bridgend beat Neath Port Talbot College 21-6, while Dyffryn Aman triumphed 28-10 over Coleg Sir Benfro.
Both play-off fixtures will be played at home venues on Wednesday, 29 November.
