Coleg Gwent 28-38 Coleg Y Cymoedd

Coleg-Y-Cymoedd continued their unbeaten streak in the WRU Wednesday League but were given arguably their toughest test so far in a bruising encounter with Coleg Gwent.

Both sides worked tirelessly throughout with some monstrous hits being made and some scintillating running rugby on show that was well beyond their years highlighting the quality of the WRU Wednesday Under 18 League.

The hosts were clearly fired up for the game and started the better showing real intensity around in all aspects of play.

They took the lead early on after a number of well worked forward drives put them well into the Coleg-Y-Cymoedd 22.

The ball was eventually passed to fly-half Scott Turner who drew two defenders before offloading to the excellent tight-head Keagan Bale who ran in under the posts unopposed with Turner converting to give his side a 7-0 lead.

But it seemed as though it was a case of when not if Coleg-Y-Cymoedd would get themselves on the scoreboard and sure enough their first try came in the 17^th minute when a quick tap penalty was taken by scrum-half Carl Lewis who found No.9 Hemi Barnes to burrow over the try line from close range to make the score 7-5.

Coleg-Y-Cymoedd then began to dominate proceedings with fly-half Jared Evans, who recently made his Pontypridd debut against Bridgend, showing his class and putting his strong centres into gaps with ease.

They took the lead shortly after when a huge driving maul was stopped by the Coleg Gwent pack just before the line but scrum-half Lewis burrowed through to give his side the lead.

Another dominating maul from another line-out was turned into a try for Coleg-Y-Cymoedd when tenacious tight-head Kieron Assaratti was on hand to fall on the ball after the pack had made it over the line.

The visitors were just too sharp for Coleg Gwent at this point as their superior skill level gave them the advantage.

But Gwent got themselves right back into the match after a break from second-row Gareth Allan and an absolutely sublime looping long range pass of his left hand that any international outside-half would have been proud of to centre Chad Ward who scored his side’s second try which Turner converted to leave Coleg Gwent 14-19 down at the end of a breathless first half.

Coleg-Y-Cymoedd tried to extinguish any hopes of a Gwent come back early in the second period after the class fly-half Evans chipped through and dived onto his own kick to score his side’s fourth try and ensure the bonus point.

With their opponents leading 24-14, Coleg Gwent once again showed tremendous character to claw their way back into the match when their imposing No.8 and Captain Harrison Keddie barged over from close range after some patient build-up work.

Turner converted his third kick of the afternoon to leave his team trailing by three points at 21-24.

The game continued to be played at a breakneck speed with some ferocious tackling by both teams, Gwent prop Bale continuing a fine afternoon with one huge hit in particular.

But two tries in five minutes from Harri Millard and Tyler Morgan ended the game as a contest as Coleg-Y-Cymoedd now led 38-21 going into the final 10 minutes.

But Coleg Gwent continued to apply pressure on their opponents and ensured they would go home with a bonus-point when strong-running winger Lloyd Lewis showed great determination to dive over after being tackled but not held close to the line.

The score remained at 38-28 to Coleg-Y-Cymoedd but credit must go to both teams after a hugely entertaining fixture that was a marvellous advert for College rugby.

Keagan Bale, Harrison Keddie and Gareth Allen all worked vigorously for the home side whilst Coleg-Y-Cymoedd’s Jarod Evans could have a very bright future if he continued this great form as could Kieron Assaratti and Hemi Barnes.