Dragons A returned as 'golden girls' after claiming the honours at the recent annual UK Student Games at Abbeydale Sports Ground in Sheffield, with two Pembrokeshire representatives and a third who was brought up in the county before moving ‘up the line’.
Jasmine Joyce and Steph Harries both started out their rugby in school at St Davids after being introduced to the game by Neil Davies who coached them as part of the Ysgol Dewi Sant team which became Welsh Schools Champions in 2010, whilst Ellie Norkett attended school in Haverfordwest and was a very good athlete with Pembrokeshire Harriers.
Jasmine scores tries galore
Coached by former Wales Sevens star Richie Pugh, the Wales Under 18 Girls side combined ruthless finishing power with staunch defence to claim golden glory. On Saturday, Dragons 'A' began in impressive fashion with a comfortable 48-7 win over Scotland with Jasmine Joyce and Ellie Norkett leading the way with a brace of tries each while Robyn Wilkins banged over four conversions.
Joyce raced over twice more in the next game to guide the Dragons to a 33-19 win over England Midlands with Norkett also getting in on the act alongside Wilkins and Rhian McCulloch. They were held 12-12 by London and South East England but bounced back in their next game against Dragons B with a 43-5 victory.
Unstoppable on Finals’ Day
Dragons 'A' were unstoppable on finals day, brushing aside London and South East England 17-0 before winning the final against South West England 10-0 with Joyce and Norkett again on the score sheet as Norkett finished the tournament with nine tries with Joyce hot on her heals with eight.
A delighted team manager Daryl Morgan said: "We were fifth last year in London so to win this time is brilliant. The girls came together as a squad and with a professional attitude fully bought into what coach Richie Pugh was trying to achieve.
He added: "The girls were superb - both in attack and in defence. Jasmine Joyce was a revelation on the wing. She stepped up a level at the tournament while Ellie Norkett played really well out of position for us. She gave the side plenty of go-forward and showed devastating pace out wide.”
Dragons A Team
Hannah Jones (Neath/Ospreys)
Rhian McCulloch (Carmarthen Quins/Scarlets)
Alisha Butchers (Carmarthen Quins/Scarlets)
Amberley Ruck (Cardiff Quins/Blues)
Megan Jones (Cardiff Quins/Blues)
Robyn Wilkins (Pencoed/Ospreys)
Ffion Jones (Carmarthen Quins/Scarlets)
Jenny Collins (Carmarthen Quins/Scarlets)
Jasmine Joyce (Haverfordwest/Scarlets)
Steph Harries (Haverfordwest/Scarlets)
Kathryn Salter (Cardiff Quins/Blues)
Elli Norkett (Neath/Ospreys)