Young Wasps power into last four of Youth Cup

 

Pembroke 5 - Llangwm 56

 
Venue: Crickmarren
Referee: Gary Wilkes
 
Llangwm Youth produced a powerful performance to overcome Pembroke and move into the semi-finals of the youth cup competition. The Young Wasps scored nine tries as they spread the ball wide at every opportunity to stretch the Pembroke defence in a game that was very well controlled by referee Gary Wilkes.
 
Llangwm’s victory was based on the ability to consistently secure quick, clean possession as their forward pack dominated, with Dylan Rowles to the fore in the ball-winning stakes, ruling the roost in the line outs. Jenson Ritchie and Kieran Sinclair stood out with their powerful ball-carrying, regularly getting over the gain line and putting their team on the front foot. This allowed half-backs Osian Sutton and Oscar Willington to move the ball wide at every opportunity and regularly stretch the Pembroke defence.
 
Conversely, despite a reasonable amount of possession and the tireless ball-carrying efforts of Lewis Dennison, Rio Stratford, Devon James and Theo Slaney, Pembroke were unable to put multiple phases together and exert pressure on a well-organised and hungry Llangwm defence. However, it says much for the Pembroke spirit that despite spending much of the game defending they didn’t fold at any stage. Having had to deal with the loss of key players this season, coach Rob Hearn would have taken great comfort from the never-say-die attitude of his team.
 
Llangwm led 36-0 at half-time as Pembroke struggled to cope with the speed of their phase play. After seven minutes Willington cut through from 25 metres to score the first try and added a second from close range soon after. Centre Joe Johns added a third try on 20 minutes following a powerful run by No. 8 Ritchie to within a few metres of the line.
 
From the kick-off Pembroke spilled the ball, allowing Llangwm to chase a deep kick and regain possession. The ball broke to centre Liam Miller, who spotted winger William Harries in space and executed a superb kick-pass to see Harries gather and dive in at the corner. As Llangwm piled on the pressure further tries followed as first hooker Seb Franklin and then skipper Kieran Sinclair crashed over from close range to close out the first-half.
 
The second-half started in similar vein as Llangwm produced the try of the game from replacement winger Josh Owen. A sweeping move from inside their own half saw multiple phases and ball carriers as Llangwm stretched the game right to left and back again with Miller providing the final pass to see Owen round off a fantastic team try. Willington then grabbed his third try, picking up a loose ball and outstripping the defence to race over from 35 metres, to go with four conversions and a penalty kick for a personal haul of 26-points.
 
Pembroke, though, continued to show redoubtable spirit and fired up by their support, registered their first score ten minutes into the half. Hard carries by Stratford and skipper Tobi Pratt set the platform on the 22-metre line, scrum-half Elliot Jeffrey spotted space on the blindside and fed Dennison who showed strength and pace to hold off several defenders and dive over wide out. This was nothing more than Pembroke deserved and fitting that the tireless and talented Dennison grabbed the score. Llangwm though came straight back and rounded off the scoring through a second try for Sinclair as he powered over the line following good work from Tom Rickwood.
 
Llangwm now await the semi-final draw, having taken great confidence from an excellent team effort. Pembroke go away to prepare for their National Youth Shield fixture in Pontarddulais and whilst it is proving a challenging season for them, they should take great credit for their part in a good advert for youth rugby.

 
Pembroke: Ollie Davies, Devon James, Rio Stratford, Tobi Pratt (Capt), Toby Hounsel, Callum Edwards, Alex Workman, Lewis Dennison, Elliot Jeffrey, Tomos Griffiths, Miles Collins, Theo Slaney, Ryan Duignan, Lucas Kersey, Ethan John.
Replacements: Kyle Lewis, Keane Lewis, Cade Wickes, Rhys Beynon
 

Llangwm: Isaac Hitchings, Seb Franklin, Kieran Sinclair (Capt), Tom Rickwood, Dylan Rowles, Alfie Elrick, Jack Phillips, Jenson Ritchie, Osian Sutton, Oscar Willington, Kieran Lewis, Joe Johns, Liam Miller, William Harries, Sonny Zipperlen.
Replacements: George Nicholls, Iestyn Mason, Riley Thomas, Josh Owen, Dean Thorpe, Seth Hughes
 



 
 
 

Young Otters ease into last four

 

Narberth 21 - Tenby United 8

 
Narberth Youth accounted for their counterparts from Tenby United at the Lewis Lloyd Ground to earn a semi-final place in this season’s Youth Cup, playing some quality rugby that pleased coach Jason Jennings because he acknowledges the strides they have made since they started out together.
 
The Young Otters ran in three tries to their opponents’ one in front of a large and appreciative crowd who recognised the quality, if not quantity of this age group in Pembrokeshire Rugby, with the game played throughout at pace and showing total commitment in both camps, with no shortage of skills either.
 
These teams had met in the league on the first day of the season and the Young Seasiders comfortably won 27-7 – but with home man of the match Ellis Phillips leading by example to take their man of the match they took the lead with a pick up and go try by prop Sid Castree, who is only just 16, and powered home from close range before Ashton O’Riorden converted.
 
Tenby soon bounced back as No 10 Alfie Pryor called the shots and good hands by centres Tm Young and Joe Jones put winger Joe Davies in  for a quality score which went unconverted.




 
But Narberth used their pack to establish a solid platform which allowed Tom O’Toole to show and go to the line, with O’Riorden again adding the extra points as full back Deniel Coaker was involved in all the Young Otters tried. 
 
Pryor opened the second-half scoring for Tenby with a well-struck penalty after their dynamic back row of Owen Grieve, George Duckett and Lewis Rossiter joined hooker Jack Webb in setting up the chance with their ball-winning capabilities – but although they were always in the game the Young Seasiders were unable to turn periods of pressure into more points.
 
And Narberth showed their ability to score tries with a cracker of a score that was initiated by flanker Callum Gorman and continued by second row Tom Faletau before scoring chance fell to Ashton O’Riorden to score a try he also converted.
 
It nicely rounded off a closely contested match where ultimately Narberth came through and wait to see who they meet in the semi-final, when the draw is made in the near future.