The lead changed hands no fewer than four times in a thrill-a-minute contest that saw Lewis, man of the match in the Welsh Schools U18 Vase Final last year, score the try and conversion in the final move of the match to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
If it was agony for Will Thomas’ Cwm Rhymni battlers, who were beaten by Bro Myrddin in the Vase semi-finals last year, there was no disgrace in losing in such a dramatic contest that had the crowd biting their fingers to the bone right up to the final moments.
Lewis was once again the star of the show, even outshining Cwm Rhymni’s fleet-footed, hat-trio hero Rhydian Jones, and he ended with 15 points. The fact he converted all five of his side’s tries made all the difference in the end as Cwm Rhymni improved only two of their half-dozen.
Bro Myrddin had beaten Bro Dinefwr in the Vase final 20-19 earlier in the year with Lewis scoring 15 points and calmy knocking over the final conversion to secure the win.
He once again strode majestically through the contest and as well as scoring at the death, he also figured prominently in another try.
It was the West Wales champions Bro Myrddin who got the upper hand early doors as centre Gwion Evans was sent over by Dylan Davies and Lewis added the extras.
Four minutes later the Cwm Rhymni skipper Thomas barged his way over for the first of his side’s six tries. It was nip and tcuk all the way through, but Bro Myrddin built up an 11 point lead at the start of the second quarter thanks to tries from prop Dan Evans and wing Harry Wrigglesworth, both of which were converted by Lewis.
But Cwm Rhymni refused to be intimidated and refused to go away. Jones raced over for the first of his three tries and then Dragons Junior Academy prop Tobie Cribb powered over for a try that Kavan Phillips converted to make it 21-17 to Bro Myrddin.
There was still time for more before the break and it was Cwm Rhymni who came up with their fourth try, and Jones’ second of the match, to edge their noses in front by a single point, 22-21, at the break.
Bro Myrddin were qui k to respond in the second half with Lewis making the break that set-up a try for his vice-captain Gruff Owen. That regained the lead and Lewis’ latest conversion made it 28-22.
If the west Walians thought they once again had some breathing space, Cwm Rhymni then suffocated them with back-to-back tries. Max Marshall got the first and two minutes later Jones sped away for his hat-trick score, which Marshall converted.
All of a sudden, Cwm Rhymni were 34-28 ahead having snatched the lead for the second time in the match. Now it was Bro Myrddin’s turn to dig deep.
In a game of such small margins the sin binning of Cwm Rhymni’s lock Ben Bowen for a high tackle 10 minutes from time proved crucial. Bro Myrddin forged forward and after securing their own line-out in the final throes of a brilliant game they created enough space for Lewis to race in for a try.
For the second year in a row at the home of Welsh rugby he was faced with a conversion kick to seal the glory – and for the second time he was up to the task to ensure ‘West was Best’ in a never-to-be-forgotten final.
Scorers: Bro Myrddin: T: Gwion Evans, Dan Evans, Harry Wrigglesworth, Gruff Owen, Tomos Lewis; C: Tomos Lewis 5. Cwm Rhymni: T: Rhydian Jones 3, Will Thomas, Tobie Cribb, Max Marshall; C: Kavan Phillips, Max Marshall
Bro Myrddin: Rhys Jones; Meilyr Thomas, Gwion Evans, Dylan (Jeff) Davies, Harry Wrigglesworth; Tomos Lewis (captain), Ioan Thomas; Josh Cramb, Tomos Axford, Daniel Evans, Gruff Ellis-Jones, Sior Porter, Gwion Williams, Tomos Parry, Gruff Owen
Reps: Dafydd Solway, Tomos Jones, Garan Phillips, Tomos Charles, Elis Davies, Thomas Williams, Rhodri Rees, Ellis Jones, Dion James, Guto BishopCwm Rhymni: Fin Reynolds; Rhydian Jones, Max Marshall, Kavan Phillips, Dylan Cole; Iestyn Ashman, Joseph Wooley;Tobie Cribb, Dylan Greening, Harry Price, Ben Brown, Jake Bishop, Dylan Taylor-Wood, Max Lundregan, Will Thomas (captain)
Reps: Ashton Bates, Liam Lawlor, Efan Betts, Elis Rees, Griff Williams, Ashton Harvard, Charlie Hughes, Josh Knobs, Ellis Watkins, Gethin Ashman
