The squad travelled to the home of English rugby and overcame Leeds Met Carnegie, holders of the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Championship trophy.
Cardiff Met, playing as UWIC until the end of this season, won the cup for five consecutive years from 2006-10 and their 2012 victory came with a 30-5 scoreline.
The team, under performance director Alan Sheppard, topped the BUCS Premier South league with a record of 10 wins in 10 games, scoring 616 points and conceding just 30. They have now won the section for eight years running.
“Our squad thoroughly deserved to win the BUCS Championship Cup Final for the way they played for each other,” said Sheppard.
“The hard work in training this season has paid off so I’m pleased the girls have been so successful.”
Three Cardiff Met players are in the Wales squad. They include skipper Vicky Owens, sister of Wales Grand Slam hooker and Cardiff Met old boy Ken Owens. International collegiate colleagues include Wales players Lowri Harries and Nia Davies. Kay Wilson plays for England and Larissa Muldoon for Ireland. They are supported fully to perform at the highest level.
Additionally, Jade Newman, Delyth Davies, Mary Ann Gittings, Caryl Griffiths and Nia Davies play for Wales University Sevens and Megan Oaten has England U20 honours.
They secured the BUCS title with an impressive display to win back the championship title and record an unbeaten season.
Leeds enjoyed early pressure and possession but Cardiff’s defence was well organized, with crucial tackles halting Leeds attacks.
It was a moment of individual brilliance from right-wing Wilson that led to Cardiff scoring the first points. Receiving the ball wide on half-way, she broke two tackles and dashed nearly 50 metres before being tackled. From the resulting ruck, scrum-half Muldoon picked up and drove over.
Cardiff doubled their advantage when tight-head Alexandra Acheson broke from outside the Leeds 22, shook off three tackles and offloaded to Owens who powered over.
Cardiff’s best period of possession resulted in a third try as Wilson dived over after strong work by full-back Mary-Ann Gittings, Muldoon, the front row, Ruth Pattison and Charlotte Benson.
With a 15-0 half-time lead, the next try scorer was Harries as she, Muldoon and Owens began to dictate affairs, with back-rowers Davies, Oaten and Carys Phillips providing key support.
Leeds hit back, however, when Cardiff outside centre Mari Griffiths was sin-binned and Leeds wing Sofia Luxton quickly went over after a run by inside centre Charlie Collard. The comeback was quickly suppered, though, as Cardiff ran in two more tries through Harries – after a break by Owens and Rebecca Thomas – and inside centre Jade Newman with five minutes remaining.
“Leeds put us under extreme pressure in the first 25 minutes but our girls worked hard to deny them a score, resulting in turnover ball and a great chance to score,” added Sheppard.
“This was a big boost as it was the first time we’d any worthwhile possession. From the restart we implemented our structures and the girls started to play, going over for some very good tries and playing some fantastic rugby.”
UWIC (v Leeds Met Carnegie)
Mary Ann Gittings; Kay Wilson, Mari Griffiths, Jade Newman, Rebecca Thomas, Charlotte Benson, Larissa Muldoon; Carys Phillips, Megan Oaten, Delyth Davies, Nia Davies, Vicky Owens, Alexandra Acheson, Lowri Harries, Lucy Jones
Replacements: Olivia Robinson, Emma Harvey, Katy Wysocki Jones, Cerys Hale, Abbey Constable, Ruth Pattison, Caryl Griffiths
