If the scoreline suggests a runaway victory it was far from that, with Bro Dur forced to withstand plenty of early penalties and to ride their luck in the first half. A ferocious start from both sides saw no quarter asked or given as the tackles came flying in.
Having seen their U12 side go down to defeat to Bryn Celynnog in the opening game, Godre’r Berwyn were determined to make amends and thought they had picked up the opening score when scrum half Eigra Thomas stretched out after a tackle to reach the line.
Unfortunately, the referee indicated a second movement and the chance was lost. Then wing Lia Rowlands looked set to score in the left corner after a clear run in, but the covering tackle from Ava Thompson not only knocked her off her feet but carried her over the in-goal line to save the day.
Godre’r Berywn’s back row of Lilli Rowlands, Heti Edwards and skipper Chloe Williams were outstanding in carrying the fight to Bro Dur, while the back division of the side coached by Wales Women’s international legend Sioned Harries had the advantage behind the scrum.
Bro Dur arrived with a team possessing six players who had featured in the U12 final a year ago, when they lost 51-10 Ysgol Bro Pedr, and they were determined not to leave as losers again. One of them, flying wing Ava Thompson. ended with two tries, but it was Thomas who dominated the game and the scoreboard.
The Go.Compare player of the match got the first of her side’s six tries from close range after her forwards had stolen a line-out and then a turn-over 10 metres over from the line and then conv verted the second of Mali Walker-Hunt’s two tries in as many minutes to make it 17-0 at the break.
Thomas then gave her side a huge boost in the opening play of the second half when she intercepted a pass 45 metres out and raced unopposed to the posts for a try she also improved. She then sent Thompson in for her two tries with two wonderful pieces of play.
The first was from a quick tap penalty that allowed her Welsh sprint champion wing to come in on a great angle to bust the defensive line. Then she produced an audacious chip and regather on half-way from the re-start, before setting Thompson free to run to the posts.
Thomas’ conversion made it 38-0, but there was a sting in the tail from the proud Godre’r Berwyn side that saw Lili Rowlands score twice from tap-and-go penalties from five and 20 metres. Sara Owain converted them both.
Ysgol Bro Dur U14: Eliza Maggs; Robyn Edwards, Mali Walker-Hunt, Mali James, Ava Thompson; Isabelle Thomas (captain), Moli Thomas; Rhonwen Jones, Ava Smith, Tangwystyl Jenkins, Freya Thomas, Kacey Stinchcombe, Braydey Murphy, Freyah Evans, Ruby John
Reps: Evie Griffiths, Rhiannon Elsey, Thea Mai Davies-Bolger, Scarlett Heycock, Nia Perera
Scorers: T: I Thomas 2, Thompson 2, Walker-Hunt 2; C: I Thomas 4Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn U14: Mali Lloyd-Jones; Lia Rowlands, Cari Rowlands, Elsa Blain, Chloe Wilkinson; Sara Owain, Eigra Jones; Freya Nelson, Malena Aled, Gwenllian Price, Jess Lewis, Mari Cet Jones, Chloe Williams (captain), Heti Edwards, Lili Rowlands
Reps: Mia Ellis, Greta Jones, Maia Roberts, Ela Evans
Scorers: T: Lili Rowlands 2; C: Owain 2Go.Compare Player of the Match: Isabelle Thomas (Bro Dur)
