Y Strade came into the final with nine players from the team that took the title away from Ysgol Ystalyfera, and having won the West Wales League and the Champions of Champions game.
They had also notched two wins over their local rivals in the league, but never got clear in a dramatic contest that had the large, vocal crowd on its feet almost throughout. In the end, Payne’s final two penalties edged Maes y Gwendraeth home 21-18 – and earned the full back the Go.Compare Player of the Match award.
Payne’s penalties cancelled out a pair of late Strade tries from No 8 Joseph Gower and fullback Cai Evans that had everyone on edge deep in the final quarter. First half tries from Payne and wing Jack Melly were vital for Maes y Gwendraeth and allowed them to build up an early lead after striking first.
The underdogs had the best of the early exchanges as the defending champions made a nervy start with a few dropped catches. Centre Jac Jones saw his penalty kick into the corner go dead before Melly made a couple of breaks.
He took his chance at the third time of asking as he scored from short range after a pass fell backwards through the hands of centre Lewys Roderick.
Strade’s response was a good one as they got on the scoreboard through exciting full back Cai Evans, who kicked a penalty after an offside infringement. A break from Strade winger Harri Davies caught Maes y Gwendraeth offside for a second time and Evans put the champions in front.
Maes Y Gwendraeth re-took the lead through a penalty from Jones, before Strade scrum-half Morgan Hughes was shown a yellow card for a forearm hit on Melly. The wing had had to leave the field following the incident, but that brought Payne into the battle.
He managed to score his side’s second try as he stepped inside the Strade defence to touchdown and then added the conversion to make it 15-6 to Maes y Gwendraeth at the break.
Payne was wide from 40-metres with a penalty early in the second half, but nailed his second attempt after Maes y Gwendraeth had been through a couple of big defensive sets. Strade fought back in the final 10 minutes as Gower spun off the back of a maul and powered his way over the line.
From the restart, Strade centre Caio Williams broke through before a crucial tackle by centre Jac Jones stopped a promising break. Evans then gave his side a glimmer of hope as he crossed in the left corner to cut the gap to two points.
He injured himself in the process and couldn’t take the conversion. Up stepped Elis Penfold, but his worthy attempt drifted wide. All that was left was for Payne to bring the game to an end with another penalty to ensure a famous victory.
Ysgol Y Strade: Cai Evans, Harri Davies, Rhodri Roberts, Caio Williams, Elis Penfold, Harri Watts, Morgan Hughes; Ifan Williams, Joseff Davies, Alex Smith, Harri Arthur, Owain Armishaw, Toby Johnson, Deiniol Edwards, Joseph Gower
Reps: Tyler Johnson, Theo James, Jac Jones, Keanu Evans, Harvey Bisping, Oliver Rees, Joseph Reynolds, Rhys Hughes, Osian Lloyd-Probert, Jack Bonnell
Scorers: T: Gower, C Evans; C: Evans; P: C Evans 2Ysgol Maes Y Gwendraeth: Rhys King, Iestyn Davies, Jac Jones, Lewys Roderick, Jack Melly, Noah Potter (captain), Jac Moon; Steffan Thomas, Griff Williams-Poles, Harri Price, Harri Bennett, Rhys Byrne, Llewelyn Jones, Llyr Daniel, Gethin Morgan
Reps: Elis Payne, Zac Payne, Gethin Lynch, Josh Jones, Finn Brownless, Matt Lloyd, Llew Rees, Macs Davies
Scorers: T: Melly, Payne C: J Jones P: Payne 2, Jac JonesGo.Compare Player of the Match: Elis Payne (Maes y Gwendraeth)
