Coleg-Y-Cymoedd 36-23 Coleg Sir Gar

Coleg-Y-Cymoedd have sent a warning to the rest of the teams competing in the WRU Wednesday League by disposing of Coleg Sir Gar 36-23.

The fixture, played at the Cardiff Arms Park, was the first game in the Cup Competition of the league for the top two teams who qualified from the group stages.

After two big bonus point wins in their Group 3 matches, Coleg-Y-Cymoedd continued where they left off as they were far superior to their Carmarthenshire rivals scoring six tries in the process.

Such simple skills like knowing when to draw your opponent and give the correct pass were all executed perfectly for the home side and worked to a tremendous effect as Coleg Sir Gar had no answer to it.

Flanker Owen Jones opened the scoring for Coleg-Y-Cymoedd in the eighth minute of the match after a strong solo run.

To make matters worse for the visitors, second row Ryan Morgan and hooker Kieran Cullen were both sent to the sin bin for separate offences but Y-Cymoedd failed to capitalise on the two man advantage.

Instead it was Sir Gar who thought they would go in at the break ahead after a pair of penalties for fly-half Dan Jones put them 6-5 up before Lewis Morgan was put in at the corner.

With the game nicely poised at half time, the ‘Valleys College’ blitzed their opponents with three tries in six minutes to effectively secure the win.

Centres Harri Millard and Terri Gee both crossed along with Morgan grabbing his second to put their side in front by 31-6.

All tries were of a similar quality with some lovely handling and decision making on show from all involved.

Kurtis Williams scored his side’s sixth and final try with Sir Gar No. 8 Josh Middleton, winger Rhys Davies and replacement full back Aaron Foley all crossing in the second half to make the scoreline a bit more respectable.

The Coleg-Y-Cymoedd front row of Rob Lewis, Kieran Assaratti and captain Liam Belcher, who has been involved with Pontypridd this season, worked their socks off for their side and did not stop from the opening whistle.

Fly-half Jared Evans also looked dangerous whenever he had the ball in hand.

Coleg-Y-Cymoedd travel to Neath Port Talbot College next Wednesday, who they beat 47-5 in the group stages, while Sir Gar will look to bounce back when they travel to Bridgend College.

Read More

Cowbridge Comprehensive 8 - 22 Coleg Llandrillo

Coleg Llandrillo have qualified for the cup competition of the WRU Wednesday Under 18 League following their hard-fought 22-8 victory at Cowbridge Comprehensive.

With Coleg Gwent getting a losing bonus point after going down to Llandovery 10-7, they finish on top of the group with Josh Leach’s Llandrillo ending up in second.

It is only Coleg Llandrillo’s debut season in the new format of the Wednesday leagues and will give another boost to North Wales rugby following the recent success of RGC 1404.

Full-back Morgan Williams was in a league of his own during the match showing class throughout with his elusive running and electric pace scoring a terrific solo try to add to his penalty effort and two conversions.

Cowbridge opened the scoring in the 17^th minute after a penalty from full back James Whittingham.

But the superb Williams made one of his many darting breaks through the Cowbridge defence shortly after before his attempt at a pass was hacked through by winger Ryan Pike who had a slice of luck with the bounce , falling right into his lap to put him in for the first try of the match.

Cowbridge remained dogged throughout and were perhaps the better team for periods of the game with their scrum dominant over their opponents.

They took the lead early in the second half after some fine build up play involving Cardiff Blues Academy flanker Jordan Viggers led to centre Harri Collier selling a dummy and crossing from close range.

But Llandrillo showed composure way beyond their years to weather the storm and with their back row of Will Bryan, Max Peters and influential skipper Jordan Jones bossing the breakdown, it seemed inevitable they would come out on top.

They regained the lead through the excellent Williams when he turned on the gas in the Cowbridge half to beat numerous defenders before showing remarkable strength and purpose to hold off a number of tacklers and stretch over for the try.

The result was all but sealed with 10 minutes remaining when replacement Dewi Bowen darted through the defence to dive in at the corner, much to the delight of his team mates.

The Cowbridge outside-half Tyler Williams was determined all the way through the match with second-row Jack Davies also getting through plenty of work and the front row of Rhys Forse, Aldi Coverdale and Joel Ringer bossing the scrum.

For Llandrillo, Williams is likely to be involved in the Championship with RGC 1404 sooner rather than later if he continues to perform like he did today.

Second-row Osian Jones also covered every blade of grass on the pitch and scrum-half Cameron Davies grew as the game went on.

Read More

Swansea U15s 22-19 South Powys U15s

Swansea  Under 15s edged past South Powys to claim a narrow success in their opening Group A match of the Dewar Shield, running out 22-19 winners at Morriston.

Swansea's Corey Evans booted his side to victory

Photo courtesy of AlfiePics

A try double from Jake Tucker helped see the Swansea side home to victory in this frantic and frenzied encounter, that was full of running rugby and high in drama.

The hosts broke the deadlock early on when quick hands from the back line saw wing Tucker cross in the corner, with full back Corey Evans adding the extras with an excellent conversion.

South Powys' Gareth Price notched up 14 points 

Conceding seemed to breathe life into the South Powys side and after an extended period of pressure, fly-half Gareth Price danced his way past three defenders to score under the posts, with Price duly adding the extras.

The game was now a high octane affair with both teams looking to run the ball at every opportunity and it was Swansea that retook the lead, with Tucker going over for his second of the afternoon.

The hosts extended their lead shortly after when centre Callum Carson crashed over the line, which Evans converted for a 19-7 lead.

Just before the interval, however, South Powys closed the gap with prop Rob Powell powering his way over the line, Price once again adding the extras.

No way through: Both sides were well-organised in defence

With everything still all to play for, the second half was as intense as the opening 40 and Swansea were the first side to blink - a poor clearance from off the hosts’ line was gathered by Powys outside half Price and he once again showed some silky skill to go over.

The match hung evenly in the balance at 19-19 but a late penalty from Swansea’s Evans sealed the win, after Powys were pinged for an infringement at a ruck in their own 22.

Swansea next travel to Ceredigion while South Powys face Llanelli on October 5, with the West Walians dispatching Newport 11-5 in their opening fixture. 

Read More

Llanelli School Boys U15 5-7 Swansea School Boys U15

Swansea No8 Corey Williams attacks from the base of the scrum

Photos courtesy of AlfiePics

Swansea School Boys Under 15s kicked their season off with a win as they overcame local rivals Llanelli by the slenderest of margins 7-5, on a wet and wild night at Cae Ffair, Trimsaran.

Despite the tricky conditions, both sides' intent to play running rugby was evident from the outset, with the two teams looking to attack at every opportunity.

Llanelli flanker Oliver Davies breaks from the line-out

With the conditions taking their toll and defences well on top, the match looked to be heading towards a stalemate but with seven minutes remaining, Swansea’s Sam Knight sparked the match into life.

Knight gathered a loose ball in his own 22 and set off on a weaving run that saw him evade several Llanelli defenders and touchdown beneath the posts. Corey Evans slotted the simplest of conversions for a 7-0 lead.

No way through: Both teams were well organised in defence

However, Llanelli immediately hit back, gaining possession from the restart as good driving work by the Llanelli pack set up a promising position. The ball was recycled and spun wide with centre Glen Williams going over out-wide, but the difficult conversion was missed and Swansea held on for victory.

Read More

Vale girls given new opportunity to try out football

A new primary schools football league has kicked off in the Vale of Glamorgan to give girls an early introduction to the sport.

Vale Ladies & Girls FC has joined forces with the Vale Council’s Active Young People team to give primary schools the opportunity to meet up once a month and play each other in the world’s most popular sport.

Some 11 schools have so far joined the scheme, giving pupils from Murch Juniors, Albert, Llancarfan, Pendoylan, Romilly, Cadoxton, Sully, Rhws, All Saints, Palmerston and St Helen’s primary schools the chance to play, while they will soon be joined by St Fagan’s Primary School.

The Vale Council’s Active Young People co-ordinator Ben Williams said: “The league involves girls from year three up to year six. It’s giving them another chance to play regular football and also lets them know about the local community clubs that they can join.

“We held a football festival for girls back in the summer which proved to be really successful, while the Women’s Olympic Football being held in Cardiff was also great for raising the profile of the game locally.

“This league aims to build on that momentum and I’d like to say thanks to Luke Williams and Gino Esposito from the Vale Ladies & Girls FC, who are working really hard to provide quality opportunities for local girls to take up the sport both in and out of school.”

Read More