Tries from Caitlyn Wilkes, Chloe Bradley and captain Molly Wakely were enough for Gwent, who spent the entire first half defending their try line from a Llandovery onslaught which they were able to completely overturn in the second.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY… Gwent College head coach Scott Matthews
“It was a tough first half. Llandovery played the game a bit better than us in the first half and we had to learn our lessons quickly. We’ve got a good group of players. I thought our defence was excellent today especially with what we faced in the first half.
“The girls didn’t panic. They never panic. They train every week and make sure they’re a fit bunch so we had to wait for the wheels to fall off for Llandovery and unfortunately for them, they did. The girls deserve that win.”
The first half was played to a stalemate, with neither side able to keep possession for a sustained period. Llandovery enjoyed the lions share of territory, spending most of the half edging towards the Gwent try line to no avail.
Maisie Davies tried to unlock the defence with her kicking output, and came closest to breaking the deadlock only to be held up on the try line. Llandovery had opportunities to take three points from penalties, but opted to go for the whitewash on multiple occasions.
Gwent’s defence held firm though, aside from Molly Owen’s sin bin near the end of the half, but Llandovery could not take advantage of the player deficit.
Gwent started the second half a different side and broke the deadlock as Caitlyn Wilkes bundled her way over the try line.
They extended their lead shortly after captain Molly Wakely crossed the try line from a quickly taken penalty. They added a third on the whistle as Chloe Bradley scored.
Gwent College – U18 Girls National Champions
U18 FINAL TEAMS
Llandovery College: Rhiannon Griffin; Florence Evans, Mabli Evans, Katharine Winder, Jasmine Jones; Bryony Slater, Ceris Phillips; Martha Ford, Antonia Scott-Howell, Stella Omin, Eliza Stenning, Milly Webb-Greenslade, Tili Hopkins, Robyn Kovachev, Maisie Davies
Reps: Juliet Scordino, Soffia Cynwyl, Masie Williams, Lucy Vaughan, Cadi Loi Davies
Gwent College: Maddison Isgrove; Mia Thomas, Molly Mae Powell, Ffion Llewellyn, Mamie George; Katie Bevans, Caitlyn Wilkes; Chloe Thomas-Bradley, Abi Meyrick, Molly Wakely (captain), Ffion lewis, Lowri Freeman, Comi Jo Greensalde, Molly Owen
Reps: Shauna Hazledean, Lexi Williams
