Dewar Shield Final Regional Game:

 

Llanelli Schools 5 - Pembrokeshire 40

 
Pembrokeshire County’s talented under 16 rugby players produced a five-star performance against their counterparts from Llanelli which saw them complete an unprecedented clean sweep in their region of the national Dewar Shield competition to gain deserved entry into the last eight of the competition, where they will join their age-group elite from other campaigns when the draw is made.
 
They took on the traditionally-strong young Scarlets at Hendy RFC on a rain and wind-swept Friday floodlit evening and came away with an outstanding 40-5 result as they played with total commitment, high skill levels and great team spirit that will have pleased head coach Aled Waters, Tom Meredith and Mikey Jones to complete a 100% record after previous tremendous successes against Carmarthenshire, RGC (North Wales), Mynydd Mawr/Dinefwr and Ceredigion.
 
This is almost certainly the first time that Pembrokeshire has completed this brilliant success and their reward was to receive the magnificent ‘Cleddyf Glyndwr’ (Glyndwr’s Sword) which after the match was presented to outstanding captain Ollie Tucker by Mrs Delyth Summons, the District H representative on the WRU.
 

Ollie Tucker leads by example – and so do the families!

 
Tucker played a huge part in the ball-winning capabilities of the team from his position at prop, with other major contributions in that area from flanker Sean Bolger, who was man of the match on this occasion, the Thomas boys in the second row, vice-captain Josh James and Dafydd Williams in the centre – which enabled outstanding fly half Madoc Evans and partner Dafydd Killian to control play throughout in a cracking team effort where every member of the squad played their pert in full.
 
The players had great support from the many family and friends who cheered them on – and they were not disappointed as Pembrokeshire were already 19-0 at half time, with pacy winger Ollie Thompson getting them off to a flier after he had received the ball wide out near the 22 and fended off his would-be marker to speed to the line, switching inside so that Niall Smith, who was an excellent last line of defence at the other end, to land the conversion.
 
Smith was again on target with the extra points added to their second try as Finn Bruins, Ethan Lewis, Harvey and Alfie Thomas made ground down the middle so that Madoc Evans, chosen as the county’s best back on the night, just glided through a gap to the posts – and a third score came after more pressure applied by their pack and on this occasion centre Dafydd Williams powered through, although Smith was off target with the conversion attempt.
 

The second half tells a similar story

 
To be fair to Llanelli they had their moments but Caio Jones, Iori Thomas and Sean Bolger, assisted by full back Smith, wingers Thompson and Alex Rigby-Scott covered well and they gradually regained the momentum for Thompson to claim his second try as he was given that metre of space he needs to race clear and give Smith an easy kick from near the posts.
 
The county wasn’t finished there, either because they soaked up a little pressure and Madoc Evans grabbed his second try from a deep position where he made ground, put in a telling chip ahead and received a kindly bounce to speed to the posts for Smith to add the extras.
 
It says much for Llanelli’s never say-die-spirit where they never gave up that they finally gained a consolation unconverted  try through the efforts of their pack and Ryan Llanfear but it was perhaps appropriate that Pembrokeshire had the final word in the last minute of the game when skipper Tucker ploughed through from five metres and Smith added his fifth conversion to set the seal on a great team performance.



 

And finally . . .

 
Afterwards, head coach Aled Waters told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk
“I could not have been prouder than I am tonight because to gain five wins against five very useful teams was a fantastic performance but I am equally delighted that the players have adapted to the roles we have asked them to play. The pack has stayed strong and committed and shown great self-discipline as they have followed our game plans to the letter, whilst our talented backs have caught the eye with their individual and collective skills.
 
“I must also mention the squad members who have sometimes not had as much game time as they deserved but they have stayed loyal and kept our regulars on their toes – which really bodes well for their future.
 
“And finally, we as coaches must thank our players’ parents for their unwavering support and I hope we can maintain this sort of form when we play in the quarter finals!”