Youth Rugby News:


Young Blues are deserved champions
 

 
Congratulations to Haverfordwest on becoming deserved champions of Pembrokeshire after three wins on the trot against good opposition, including a comfortable win over Narberth,  an amazing come-back against Tenby United at Heywood Lane and then a long trek to Aberystwyth to beat one of their strongest opponents to be crowned champs.
 
 
 

Blues take a big step forward

 
 

Haverfordwest 56 - Narberth 3

 
 
The Young Otters, under the excellent coaching of Jason Jennings, have improved no end this season but had no answer to the power play of a Haverfordwest Youth team which has quality possession from their powerful pack and a back division that is full of running.
 
Leading the way in the try-scoring stakes was again outstanding hooker Iori Curtis with two tries, as did Harvey Thomas and Logun Simmonds, with Kai Robinson and Liam Hughes also getting on the try sheet, as did Rio Phillips, who added four conversions and an early penalty for a personal haul of 16 points, leaving The Young Blues with a big lead over Tenby United and Crymych behind them in second and third.
 
 
 

Amazing Blues fight-back in the ‘Match of the Season’

 
 

Tenby United 35 - Haverfordwest 43

 
 
Youth organiser Ken Davies does not dish out the praise if it is not merited so when he described this topsy-turvy match under the Heywood Lane floodlights as the best he’s seen this season it must have been a corker that we know was enjoyed by a very big crowd which saw Tenby Youth produce an outstanding first-half performance to take a deserved and massive 35-13 lead.
 
Such a deficit would have finished off other opponents but whatever Young Blues’ head coach Stephen Parry said at the interval clearly worked because they added 30 points without reply to complete an astonishing come-back – and although The Young Seasiders were clearly shattered at the final whistle they at least knew they had helped provide a match that showed everything that was good about youth rugby in both clubs.
 
In that exciting opening period, urged on by a huge crowd of supporters, they had some terrific ball-winning by Ollie Tucker and Co up front so that Louie Treadaway-Williams and Alfie Pryor could call the shots at half back as Treadaway-Williams  raced over for a try alongside centre Madoc Evans, another class act,  plus two quality scores by strong-running centre Tommy Young and another from pacy winger Keanu Williams.
 
All five were converted by outside half Alfie Pryor and at that stage it looked as if a first defeat of the season was on the cards for the visitors but they rallied up front, again led by inspirational skipper Iori Curtis as he blasted over from close range to score a deserved hat-trick – and set up their final score with a flipped pass that would have done credit to any match at any level.
 
Other tries came from Zac Shaw, Harry Lawrence, Alfie Thomas and Rio Phillips, who also caught the eye as he got his backs moving and added three conversions to help send The Blues’ supporters away happy on such a memorable night!
 
 
 

Young Blues win well in Mid Wales

 
 

Aberystwyth 19 - Haverfordwest 47

 
 
Then it was on to Aberystwyth and head coach Steven Parry, plus other coaches in Andrew Thicker, Ade Smith, Tom Sterling and team manager Phillippa Evans were eager that their young charges should shake to stiffness out of their legs and start with plenty of commitment.
 
And start well they did as nippy scrum half Alfie Thomas and pacy full back Niall Smith scored excellent team tries in the opening five minutes, both converted by Rio Phillips – but Aber showed their grit with a converted try
 
Harvey Thomas, who came on as a replacement midway through the first half then added a third for The Young Blues as  Cruz Findlay, Harri Evans and Iori Curtis provided the launch pad but again Aber fought back with their second score to trail 14-21 at half time
 
The second half followed a similar pattern as Haverfordwest always looked more likely to score but Aber battled bravely, although their efforts were only rewarded with a third try, this time unconverted - and The Young Blues crossed the whitewash for another four scores, three of them converted by Rio Phillips as he played well in a midfield trio with Liam Hughes and Max Fenn, who always looked to bring in the pace of Isaac Hughes, Harry Lawrence and full back Smith into the attacking equation.
 
Kai Robinson, Alfie Dworakoski, Jack Robinson, Logan Young and outstanding No 8 Kieran Robinson also played a part as Liam Hughes scored twice and Harvey Thomas completed his hat-trick as reward for his work rate.
 
What pleased head coach Parry was the way that the whole squad played a part as the replacements were involved and showed the veritable strength in depth that the club has at this age-level.
 
So, they will round off their league programme on Saturday against The Young Seagulls before taking on Narberth Youth in the Cup Final at Haverfordwest, where they will start as hot favourites but will be warned about complacency by their coaches so that they maintain their 100% win record locally, with their single set-back coming in the Welsh Youth National Plate semi-final, where they lost narrowly to Barry RFC.
 
 
*Haverfordwest Youth's last league game is against Crymych Youth on Saturday, April 19th also they have reached the Pembrokeshire Youth Cup Final where they will play Narberth Youth at Pembroke Road Ground, home of The Blues.
 
Haverfordwest Youth:
Niall Smith: Isaac Mills; Liam Hughes; Max Fenn; Harry Lawrence: Rio Phillips; Alfie Thomas. Cruz Findlay; Harri Evans; Iori Curtis: Kai Robinson; Alfie  Dworakoski: Jack Robinson; Logun Young; Kieran Harries, Alfie Kehoe. Replacements: Hamish Furlong; Ollie Warlow; Michael Selyer; Logan Symmonds; Harvey Thomas; Isaac Jones; Charlie Kelly.