National Youth Bowl:

 


 

Llangwm Youth 24 - Bryncoch Youth 14

 
The final whistle saw utter jubilation breakout amongst the players, coaches and huge travelling support of Llangwm as the young Wasps produced a superb second half performance to beat Bryncoch and secure a trip to the Principality Stadium for the National Bowl final.
 
After 15 minutes there was little evidence of what was to come as Llangwm found themselves 14 – 0 down, a player short due to a yellow card and up against it as the Bryncoch pack held the advantage.
 
However, the character of the squad shone through as they repeatedly put their bodies on the line and fought their way back into the game. The support played a massive part on the day as the team was roared on from start to finish, as did all the pre-match messages of good luck received from across Pembrokeshire and farther afield.
 

Bryncoch start with a bang

 
Bryncoch turned up with a big, powerful pack and from the outset it was clear their game plan was to use a strong scrum and powerful carriers to overcome their opponents.
 
Within 15 minutes these tactics had paid dividends as the excellent scrum-half Luke Davies dictated play and strong-phase play saw Naeem Ahmed and Nathan Bater both crash over from close range; both tries converted to see Llangwm on the back foot. Sam Edwards at fullback offered a constant threat as a foil to the Bryncoch forward play, making a number of telling breaks.
 
Llangwm’s cause was further dented as they went down to 14 men with the excellent Dom Asson seeing yellow but slowly they started to gain some possession and gain a foothold in the game. The first-up tackles began to stop Bryncoch on the gain line and excellent work upfront secured a few turnovers, seeing the momentum of the game begin to change.
 

Llangwm grab crucial score before half time

 
Confidence was visibly growing in the young Wasps as they looked to move the ball at every opportunity and they gained their reward late in the first half with a series of carries and offloads which saw Kieran Sinclair, who had come off the bench to replace Charlie Wilson, force his way over for a try, with Fletcher Picton adding the conversion to make the half time score 14 – 7.
 
The second period saw the large crowd treated to an exhibition of true grit, determination, bravery and no little skill from the Wasps as they scored three tries without response to claim the glory. This was a true team effort as every player emptied the tank. The front row of Wilson, Sinclair, Seb McIntosh and Aled Rogers carried tirelessly, skipper Arwyn O’Loughlin ruled the lineout whilst the back row of Asson, Sam Rickwood and Joe Phillips were prominent throughout. Player of the match Seth Willington had an outstanding game from his second row berth with crucial momentum-shifting tackles and turnovers.




 

Llangwm begin to take control . . .

 
As the game wore on the Llangwm forwards provided a strong platform for the runners in the backs as Ioan Hawkridge-Jones at scrum half began to exert more and more influence and it was he who grabbed a second try, sniping over from close range and using his strength to get the touchdown. Picton converted to draw the score level at 14 – 14.
 
Liam Rees was now controlling the game with searching kicks and good decision making, bringing his centres Picton and the excellent Ieuan Gray onto the ball. Wingers Aaron John and Iwan Davies, along with fullback Harry Makepeace, made regular inroads whilst the defensive work of the whole back line throughout the second half was immense.
 
Bryncoch were starting to tire with gaps beginning to open up in the defensive line but they kept coming at Llangwm in a fierce battle and after Picton had been narrowly wide with a long range penalty the score remained locked at 14 – 14 with ten minutes remaining.
 

. . . And it was to be their day

 
But this was to be Llangwm’s day. Willington charged down a clearance kick in the Bryncoch 22 and followed up with a big tackle. The ball was turned over and moved to the blindside where Gray took the pass and showed brilliant footwork to beat several defenders to grab the try.
 
The tension in the ground was tangible as the clock ticked down. Bryncoch attacked again only for Willington to secure a crucial turnover penalty on halfway. Good field position was secured but Bryncoch secured possession, having no option but to try and run out of defence. But the ball went astray and it was Rees who pounced to kick through and dive over to secure the victory and send the crowd into delirium.
 
Coaches Dafydd Bowen, Geoff Asson and Jon Whitticombe were rightly elated with the victory. A trip to the Principality Stadium on 7^th April now awaits them and the young Wasps where they will face Caerphilly in the final, which will be a moment of history for a very proud Llangwm Rugby Club.
 
Llangwm Youth: Charlie Wilson, Seb McIntosh, Aled Rogers, Arwyn O’Loughlin (c), Seth Willington, Sam Rickwood, Dom Asson, Joe Phillips, Ioan Hawkridge-Jones, Liam Rees, Aaron John, Fletcher Picton, Ieuan Gray, Iwan Davies, Harry Makepeace. Replacements: Kieran Sinclair, Flynn Tjoonk, Jake Thomas, Matthew Cole, Owen Phelps, Alfie Elrick, Fergus Reynolds, Owen Evans.
 
Bryncoch Youth: Olly Addis-Fuller, Naeem Ahmed, Khalifa Al Mulfleni, Harri Annis-Moreton, Ellis Baddick, Nathan Bater, Morgan Beynon, Callum Bird, Jayden Bradley, Tom Carroll, Tarik Dabeh, Cian Davies, Luke Davies, Sam Edwards, Billy Evans, Lewys Evans, Scott Evans, Darcy Harries, Gabriel Hayes, Dylan Hughes, James Johnson, Aaron Jones, Rhodri Phillips, Charlie Adams, Daniel Thomas, Joseph Thomas, Luke Thomas, Shay Sheppard.