Youth Cup Rugby Semi-Final:
Young Seasiders claim a final spot
Tenby United Youth 31 - Llangwm Youth 23
Tenby deservedly won through to the youth cup final after a truly excellent game of rugby by two fully committed teams – and a great advert for youth rugby in front of a huge and appreciative crowd.
Tenby led 14-0 after 10 minutes with two good tries and despite at one point Llangwm fighting back to lead 20-19 in the second half, Tenby never let up and finished strongly.
They were quicker in thought and deed for the most part so Llangwm just couldn't shrug them off as Tenby tackled like demons, ran strongly and kicked very well out of hand, directed mainly by centre Max James.
Some very strong individual performances
For Llangwm, Fletcher Picton had 18 points with a try, two conversions and three penalties, whilst Ioan Hawkridge-Jones had the other try to cap an outstanding individual display.
Others to mention for the Young Wasps were Sam Rickwood, who carried very well, as did Kieran Sinclair, plus Seth Willington did well in the linesout and Aaron John made some nice breaks on the wing.
For Tenby, hooker Kyle Rossiter at hooker was very good as he carried well and scored one of the Young Seasiders’ five tries, with the others claimed by Dylan Duffy (2), Lewis Fargin and Fletcher Broadhurst, and with Max James converting three of them.
Will Allen also caught the eye at fullback and winger Joseph Davies made good yards as flanker Jake Henson and prop Iori Richards led their powerful pack play.
It all added up to a pulsating semi-final and Llangwm players and coaches can be proud of all they have achieved this season, and Tenby United Youth’s reward for a deserved victory is a final slot against Aberystwyth at Pembroke on Saturday at 6pm.
League Rugby:
Crymych Youth take a giant step towards league title
Crymych Youth 32 - Aberystwyth Youth 13
This match was rightly billed for some time as a potentially championship title decider and indeed that prediction almost came true as Crymych Youth played out of their skins to pick up a deserved bonus-point win over Aberystwyth which meant that Aber needed to claim the maximum ten points from their last two fixtures to draw level on points – but with Crymych still to play Whitland later this week.
Watching the match was Ken Davies, the county youth organiser, and he was full of praise for the way the game was played: with high skill levels, pace aplenty and total commitment in front of a large and vociferous crowd consisting mainly of home supporters who were understandably delighted by the outcome.
The launch pad for their success was undoubtedly their forward power as Tol Alleyne, Daf page and Kyle Kimpson ensured scrum superiority and second rows Bryn Thomas and Huw Reed joined Aneirin Vaughan, Jac Delaney and skipper Iestyn Evans not only prevented Aber from using their pacy backs to the full but claimed four of their five tries.
Aber start well but Crymych lead at half time
Yet it was Aber who opened the scoring with a penalty from No 10 Euros Lloyd but Crymych hit back with a try by flanker Delaney from a well-controlled lineout drive, converted by outside half Owain Davies, before the visitors grabbed a good try from winger Owen Pugh which Lloyd converted as hooker Mason Lees and other winger Harri Gwynn-Jones also played well.
But Crymych carried a 14-10 lead into half time as Delaney popped up wide out after quick hands from Gruff Edwards, Deian Davies and Hedd George had created the space – and Owain Davies did well to add the extra points.
Davies added a penalty early in the second period and although Aber tried hard to bounce back all they could muster was a second Lloyd penalty as the Crymych defence, with full back Iori Lewis, plus wingers Charlie Fenn and Elis James provided good cover – and they added a third try when prop Page ploughed over for an unconverted score.
Davies finishes the game in style
Then No 10 Owain Davies applied the coup de grace as the Crymych replacement bench also provided some energy and he kicked a penalty and then waltzed through for a try which provided the vital bonus point before he also converted to put the icing on the is particular rugby cake.
It brought joy to players, families and supporters alike, especially in the cases of coach Barry Davies and team manager Anne-Marie Wood, both of whom have been heavily involved since this particular set of players joined junior rugby and this was their final home match in over five years of rugby together.
Crymych Youth: 1. Ptolemy Alleyne 2. Dan Page 3. Kyle Kempson 4. Huw Reed 5. Bryn Thomas 6. Aneirin Vaughan 7. Jac Delaney 8. Iestyn wood (Capt) 9. Gruff Edwards 10. Owain Davies 11. Elis James 12. Hedd George 13. Deian Davies 14. Charlie Fenn 15. Iori Lewis. Replacements: 16. Ifan Vaughan 17. Dyfrig Dellar 18. Ashton De‘ath 19. Rhys Jones 20. Kian Morris 21. Steff Morris 22. Aled Lewis 23. Cai Edwards.
Lennon fires Young Borderers to local derby win
Whitland Youth 6 - Narberth Youth 0
Local youth derbies between Whitland and Narberth are traditionally tight and this one was no exception as defences came out on top to prevent any tries being scored and in the final analysis it was two penalties by Lennon Reynolds which sealed the verdict in the Young Borderers’ favour.
Both came in the final quarter, with the second successful three-pointer taking him to a season’s tally of 102 points in the Young Otters’ final match together.
A total of six points scored might suggest a drab derby but it was anything but as there were powerful tackles aplenty, real pace wide out and half chances in both camps but a mixture of handling errors and taking of wrong options result in Reynolds’ penalties giving Whitland Youth the bragging rights over their young neighbours!
Whitland Youth: Jake Williams: Oli Bujega; Toby Rees; Monty Minton; Ieuan Hill: Lennon Reynolds; Morgan Williams: Harry Lloyd; Daniel Howells; Tom Monk: Jack Worthing; Jack Jenkins: Tecwyn Thomas; Rhys Males; Lewis Jones. Replacements: Joshua Clarke; Aaron Williams.