Glantaf made a huge statement in difficult conditions last week when they made the short journey from Llandaff North to Whitchurch where they beat their biggest rivals 31-0.
Whitchurch HS simply had no answer to the power and precision of the visiting forwards who laid the platform for a five try victory with a near perfect wet weather exhibition. Wing Joe Fernandez picked up two of them and centre Will Adam and Bailey Cutts got one each.
Outside half Lloyd Lucas got a fifth and added three conversions to ensure his side stayed three points clear of reigning champions Llandovery College at the top of the table.
Glantaf now face newly promoted Gower College, who have been highly competitive in every game without picking up a win in their five outings to date. They went down to a 22-5 home defeat last weekend to Llandovery, but held the champions to three tries to deny them a bonus-point.
This week Llandovery host Coleg y Cymoedd, who were beaten 28-10 by the improving Cardiff & Vale College. Dai Young’s side scored four tries in an impressive display, with full back Rhys Cummings scoring one of them and converting three.
They now head north to face Coleg Llandrillo, who upset the odds last week when they beat the previously unbeaten Coleg Sir Gar 14-12.
Wales U18s head coach Richie Pugh has been delighted with this season’s competition and along with a number of other national coaches, has been keen observers of the programme this season.
“It’s been really competitive in both leagues, which is great to see,” he said. “Obviously front runners Glantaf and Coleg Sir Gar are performing well but teams like Gower College who aren’t quite getting there in the wins, are putting in some really good performances against some top schools.
“Gwent College are leading the way in Pool B, myself and other coaches have been out for all the games and it’s real positive to see.”
Pugh has named an initial training camp squad for a session at the National Centre of Excellence as he begins preparations for the season ahead.
“We’ve picked close to 50 boys to come into the next part of our Under !8s national programme off the back of our summer development week in Ireland where we played Scotland, Ireland and Italy,” he said.
“This is the next stage, where we have players coming into the programme who have put their hands up. The league has been competitive so far with six rounds done and the training camp is the next stage of the id process for us working with the regions and getting the best crop of youngsters coming in and training together at the performance centre in Cardiff.”
“It’s still early stages in terms of a national point of view, training camp now and another one in December then it goes into regional age grade programme then we will look forward to our international window in March/April time leading into a Six Nations campaign.”
Conference A Fixtures – 23 October
Coleg Llandrillo v Cardiff & Vale College
Gower College v Ysgol Glantaf
Llandovery College v Coleg y Cymoedd
Conference A Results – 16 October
Cardiff & Vale College 28 – 10 Coleg y Cymoedd
Coleg Llandrillo 14 – 12 Coleg Sir Gâr
Llandovery College 22 – 5 Gower College
Whitchurch HS 0 – 31 Ysgol Glantaf
Conference B Fixtures – 23 October
Christ College, Brecon v Coleg Sir Benfro
Newport HS v Bridgend College
Ysgol Dyffryn Aman v Coleg Gwent
Ysgol Ystalyfera v Neath Port Talbot College
Conference B Results – 16 October
Coleg Gwent 29 – 10 Newport HS
Coleg Sir Benfro 17 – 34 Ysgol Ystalyfera
Neath Port Talbot College 18 – 27 Ysgol Dyffryn Aman
