Coleg Y Cymoedd stopped their young Scarlets counterparts from Coleg Sir Gar making a clean sweep of the major Under 18 titles in Wales with a stunning 29-10 victory in the Welsh Schools & Colleges U18 League final at Sardis Road.
It was a massive dose of revenge for the top junior side in the Cardiff Blues region after surrendering a huge half-time lead in last season’s final to the same side before going down to an agonising 27-23 defeat.
The bad weather earned Cymoedd an unexpected ‘home’ advantage when the WRU switched the game from Bridgend’s Brewery Filed to the 4G surface in Pontypridd to ensure the game could go ahead.
Having beaten Sir Gar 52-20 at the same venue in the regular league season Cymoedd went into the game full of confidence. They won 10 of their 12 league fixtures and defeated Ysgol Glantaf in the semi-finals to set-up a revenge match with the champions.
Sir Gar had scored 27 unanswered points in the second half of last season’s final to rip the trophy out of Cymoedd’s hands, who had looked set for a hat-trick of titles. But there were never any doubts this time as they powered to their third win in the last four years.
The Cymoedd pack reigned supreme and denied their opponents the quick possession they craved to release their speedy and skilful back division. Boasting a dozen members of the current Wales Under 18 squad, and based on the Scarlets side that won the Regional Age Grade Under 18 title, Sir Gar presented a formidable challenge.
Both skippers got on the score sheet in the first quarter as Callun James got Cymoedd on the scoreboard with a 12th minute try and then opposite number Gethin Davies replied five minutes later for Sir Gar. James went on to get a second touchdown before the break.
His first effort owed everything to a long, cut-out pass from outside-half Cavan Slade from a quick ruck 10 metres out from the Sir Gar line. The ball didn’t go to hand, but a kind bounce saw it pop up for lock Cian Lewis-Hughes, who had the simplest of tasks to send James over unopposed for a try that Slade converted.
CAIS! Callun James (11 ')
Coleg y Cymoedd 7-0 Coleg Sir Gâr yn fyw ar @S4Cchwaraeon
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— Rygbi Pawb (@RygbiPawbS4C) February 27, 2018
Sir Gar responded with a perfect driving line-out try. Jac Price leapt high and flanker Davies was driven over in the left corner to cut the gap to two points, but a Slade penalty took Cymoedd’s lead out to five midway through the opening period.
That advantage grew further when James pounced on a mistake at the back of a Sir Gar scrum just inside their 22. The ball squirted out of the side as scrum half Dylan Morgan was waiting for it at the feet of his No.8 and James simply picked up the ball and raced 20 metres to score a sucker try that Slade improved.
That gave Cymoedd a handy 17-5 lead at the break, but they had been here before. Last season their half-time lead had been even bigger, yet 27 unanswered points from a resurgent Sir Gar had swept them to a 27-23 victory.
CAIS! Gethin Davies (17 ')
Coleg y Cymoedd 7-5 Coleg Sir Gâr (yn fyw ar S4C Chwaraeon)
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— Rygbi Pawb (@RygbiPawbS4C) February 27, 2018
The first score after the break was going to be crucial and it took Cymoedd only two minutes to increase their lead. Scrum-half Nathan Griffiths fed the ever-eager Lewis Hughes to carry hard into the Sir Gar midfield in the middle of their 22 and when they ball was recycled it was clever centre Ioan Evans who caused mayhem in the defensive line with his direct running.
His one-handed off-load to the supporting Iwan Price-Thomas allowed the full back to bounce off opposite number Harri Doel before twisting out of lock Ryan Evans’ tackle before stretching out to score a try that made it 22-5.
Sir Gar needed to find a response, and quickly, and a try wide out on the left by wing Eray Wilson after a long pass by outside-half Llew Smith at least gave the champions something to build on as they battled against the odds to hold onto their title.
They were forced to chase the game and the luck of the bounce deserted them when Smith attempted a risky chip over the top from inside his 22. The ball bounced perfectly for Cymoedd wing Liam Lloyd, who cut straight through a fractured, and tiring, defence to score a try at the side of the posts that Slade converted to complete the scoring.
Scorers: Cymoedd: Tries: C James 2, I Price-Thomas, L Lloyd; Cons: C Slade 3; Pen: C Slade. Sir Gar: Tries: G Davies, E Wilson
Coleg Y Cymoedd: Iwan Price-Thomas; Will Clapham, Leon Davies, Ioan Evans, Liam Lloyd; Cavan Slade, Nathan Griffiths; Garyn Phillips, Ieuan Morris, Fraser Hughes, Cian Lewis-Hughes, Mitchell Barnard, Ioan Davies, Callun James (captain), Ieuan Pring
Reps: Garran Williams, Matthew Isles, Iestyn Haskins, Cerith Lloyd, Kyle Evans, Iwan Sheppard, Morgan Price, Mason Thomas
Coleg Sir Gar: Harri Doel; Dean James, Joe Roberts, Osian Knott, Eray Wilson; Llew Smith, Dylan Morgan; Keelan Jewell, Dom Booth, Adam Thomas, Ryan Evans, Jac Price, Cam Lewis, Gethin Davies (captain), Sam Williams
Reps: Josh Bowen, Llew Phillips-Taylor, Dafydd Millward, Joe Scott, Jac Morgan, Jac Howells, Bradley Roderick, Tom Evans
Previous Finals
2010/11: Coleg Sir Gar 20, Coleg Gwent 19
2011/12: Coleg Sir Gar 16, Coleg Gwent 17
2012/13: Coleg Sir Gar 18, Coleg Morgannwg 16
2013/14: Coleg Y Cymoedd (formerly Morgannwg) 22, Coleg Sir Gar 25
2014/15: Coleg Y Cymoedd 13, Coleg Sir Gar 3
2015/16: Coleg Y Cymoedd 44, Coleg Sir Gar 24
2016/17: Coleg Sir Gar 27, Coleg Y Cymoedd 23
2017/18: Coleg Y Cymoedd 29, Coleg Sir Gar 10
CAIS! Iwan Price-Thomas (37')
Coleg y Cymoedd 22-5 Coleg Sir Gâr (yn fyw ar S4C Chwaraeon)
Gwylio yma:https://t.co/5armGt9K1U pic.twitter.com/00rOwBGfye
— Rygbi Pawb (@RygbiPawbS4C) February 27, 2018
