Their 22-13 home triumph over Whitchurch was turned in their favour when the visitors lost their Wales U18 lock Christian Tshiunza to the sin-bin for a high tackle midway through the first-half. Before he returned Glantaf had wiped out flanker Will Jameson’s opening try for Whitchurch and taken a 14-5 lead.
Fleet-footed full back Theo Cabango, fresh from doing duty with Cardiff Blues A in the Celtic Cup, ran in the first and then No 8 Gwilym Evans added a second. Both tries were converted by outside half Josh Phillips.
Wing Ewan Skuse added a third try for Glantaf at the start of the second half to open up a 14 point gap before Joe McCarthy and Phillips swapped penalties. Whitchurch threw the kitchen sink at their near neighbours in the closing stages, picking up a a late try, but it was too little, too late.
Whitchurch host Cardiff & Vale College in Round 2 in another local derby at their Upper School field. CAVC kicked-off with a narrow defeat to reigning champions Coleg Y Cymoedd.
It was a close run thing at the Arms Park on the opening night of Cymoedd’s defence of their title as they ran out 15-8 victors’ in a tense local derby. Both sides lost two players each to the sin-bin, but not even that created much extra space in a game of three tries.
CAVC got the scoreboard moving after only four minutes with a driving line-out try from flanker Iestyn Galton. Cymoedd took the lead with a try from hooker Corben Evans at the posts after the visitors had snapped up an over-throw at a CAVC line-out on the 22.
Tyler Morris added the extras and Cymoedd were on course to avenge their defeat at Sardis Road last season. The champions thought they had extended their lead with a second try, but the referee ruled it out for crossing.
That gave CAVC the chance to edge their noses back in front with a Drew Musa penalty that made it 8-7 to the home side at the break. Cymoedd were just held up over the line early in the second half and then CAVC lost Dan Stancome to the sin-bin for a high tackle.
Morris kicked a penalty to take Cymoedd back into the lead and on the hour mark last season’s top try scorer, left wing Cavan Davies, sped into the left corner from the 10 metre line for a crucial try.
The game ended with a line-out 10 metres out from the champions’ line, but CAVC gave away a penalty for lifting and lost their last shot at levelling matters. Cymoedd host Neath Port Talbot College at Sardis Road in Round 2.
Coleg Sir Gar, last season’s finalists, plundered eight tries in their 48-0 opening win over Bridgend College. Their outstanding pack picked up six of them, with prop Zak Gianni going over for two and replacement front rower Harvey Jones also getting a brace.
They have a week off in Round 2 as do Bridgend, who opened with a narrow win over Llandovery College. Llandovery then recovered to win an absolute thriller at home against Pembrokeshire College.
In a game of 10 tries, each side scored a handful before the home side emerged triumphant 31-29. Two tries from wing Olly Fish were vital in the Llandovery effort, while Pembrokeshire prop Aidan Bateman also bagged a brace as four of the five tries from the visitors came from their powerful pack.
Coleg Llandrillo had two tries from wing Harri Hughes in the space of three minutes of the start of the second half to thank for their 27-24 home win over Neath Port Talbot College. The visitors got off to a flyer and were 12 points clear in as many minutes thanks to tries from Joe Hawkins and Joe Lewis.
But the Gogs hit back and four second half tries tipped the scales in their favour. Llandrillo head to Newport HS this week, where the home side will be looking to hit back from their six try, 37-14 defeat at Gower College in Round 1.
NATIONAL SCHOOLS & COLLEGES LEAGUE – ROUND 2
Tuesday, 24 September
Ysgol Glantaf v Coleg Gwent (7.15pm, Sardis Road)
Wednesday, 25 September
Coleg Y Cymoedd v Neath Port Talbot College (2.30pm, Sardis Road)
Whitchurch HS v Cardiff & Vale College (2.30pm)
Newport HS v Coleg Llandrillo (2.30pm)
Gower College v Pembrokeshire College (2.30pm, Penyrheol School)
RESULTS TO DATE
11 September
Bridgend College 12, Llandovery College 5
17 September
Cardiff & Vale College 8, Coleg Y Cymoedd 15
18 September
Coleg Llandrillo 27, Neath Port Talbot College 23
Coleg Sir Gar 48, Bridgend College 0
Gower College 37, Newport HS 14
Llandovery College 31, Pembrokeshire College 29
Ysgol Glantaf 22, Whitchurch HS 13
