Crymych Youth win a cracking top-of-table clash against the Young Otters

 

 

Crymych Youth 24 - Narberth Youth 15

 

Crymych Youth took a significant step towards winning the Pembrokeshire Youth Championship as they beat their counterparts from Narberth – but both teams produced a superb exhibition of rugby that was a credit to both clubs.
 
Played with pace aplenty and high skill levels there was the added ingredient of total commitment and the result was in doubt almost to the end as Narberth missed a golden chance to snatch the verdict as they trailed 19-15 but then Crymych went straight back on the attack thanks to a splendid 50-20 clearance by scrum half Gruff Edwards.
 
And although Narberth stole the ball at the resulting lineout they dropped it on the line and allowed home skipper Iestyn Wood to fall on it and register a try hat-trick as reward for his play in the back row alongside Jac Delaney and Bryn Thomas, who scored the other try and was later voted as man of the match in the Crymych camp.
 

Otters start well but Crymych lead at half time

 
But it was Narberth who opened the scoring with an opportunist piece of work by Harri Harries as he spun out of several tackles to reach the line, with Shay Norcross adding the extra points alongside a well-struck penalty.
 
But Crymych still took a 12-10 lead into half time as their tight five of Richard Phillips, Dan Page, Huw Read, Ashton De’Ath and especially Ptolemy Alleyne won quality possession and enabled skipper Wood to open their account with a typical close-range pick and go and then a well-executed charge after Alleyne had set him up on the blind side, with outside half Owain Davies landing one conversion.



 

Equally compelling second period

 
The second half was no less entertaining or compelling as both teams showed why there so strong, with Wil Nicholas and Iestyn Comey catching the eye for Narberth alongside Iori Morgan, who scored a try from a well-executed rolling maul before Norcross converted.
For Crymych, centres Hedd George and Deian Davies tackled well in midfield as fortunes ebbed and flowed.
 
Then that try by Bryn Thomas, who took the scoring pass from Owain Davies before the latter converted, which seemed likely to ease Crymych home until Narberth had that late chance that they fluffed – and Crymych capitalised to add that late score to make the scoreline a little more convincing than it might have been on the balance of play.
 
But it was an epic clash and great to see both teams share a photograph from Darren Thomas, which is as it should be for talented players like this!
 
Crymych Youth:  Iori Lewis: Ifan Vaughan; Deian Davies; Hedd George; Dyfrig Deller: Owain Davies; Gruff Edwards: Richard Phillips; Dan Page; Ptolemy Alleyne: Huw Reed; Ashton De’Ath: Jack Delaney; Bryn Thomas; Iestyn Wood (Capt). Replacements: Kian Morris; Rhys Jones;  Cai Edwards; Luke Allsworth; Elis James; Charlie Fenn; Aled Lewis.