Fixture

Newbridge RFC | Youth Team Under 18 21 - 8 Thornbury U18s | Youth Under 18
Ioan Lloyd
Try 1
Tom Deinko
Try 1
Garin Price
Try 1
Iwan Burgwin
Conversion 3

Match Report
12 March 2017 / Team News

Youth Beat Bristols Best

A minutes silence was observed in respect of Wales International Elli Norkett who recently passed away so tragically, aged just 21.  It was impeccably observed by players and supporters alike.

The visitors to The Welfare for an unusual Sunday afternoon match were Thornbury RFC U18s.   Thornbury from just north of Bristol, have already won the Gloucester Colts league this season.  They are in the Bristol Cup semi-final and contain the team that won the Bristol Under 16 Cup last season.

The Youth were at almost full strength but were lacking a regular hooker.  Dragons U18 hooker Zach Hewlett was injured and Wales U18 hooker William Griffiths will be facing France in Lyon next Saturday.  It was versatile forward Morgan Thomas who stepped into the breach.  Morgan had played in every position in the forwards this season except hooker so this was his opportunity to get the full set.

Newbridge kicked off playing up the slope and after good tackles by Morgan Thomas and flanker Tyler Smith Captain Euan Lewis won a penalty with a turnover.  Fly half Iwan Burwgin nudged the ball forward to give Newbridge an attacking lineout.  After a couple of phases a set move by the exciting Newbridge backline saw Joel Witcombe pass to big flying winger Tom Deinko for his seventh try this year.   Burwgin sent the ball over the posts from the right hand touchline.  Newbridge 7 Thornbury 0.

After a few minutes of defensive solidity from Newbridge  George Price forced an error from the Thornbury centre gained posession and offloaded to Garin Price who flew out of the blocks and outstripped the opposition centres and full back from 50 meters to touchdown in the corner.  Garin has now scored 21 trys in his 19 appearances.  Burgwin’s conversion from wide out on the left was a monster effort and hugely applauded by the crowd.  Newbridge 14 Thornbury 0.

Thornbury wouldn’t lie down though and earned themselves firstly a converted penalty and then broke out of their own half brushing aside the last ditch tackle to score in the corner and bring them back into the match at 14-8.

Well into the second half Thornbury had a couple of 5 meter lineouts but the Newbridge pack were too worldly wise and powerful to allow the driving maul anywhere near the whitewash.  In the end Garin won the relieving penalty in front of the posts and Newbridge cleared their lines.

Newbridge again worked hard through the carrying of the forwards and the speed of the backs to put themselves 10 meters off the line.  Thornbury had left a yawning gap to the side of the ruck in front of the posts and scrum half Cole Jones exploited it beautifully by feeding powerful center Ioan Lloyd.  Ioan’s sublime angle put him over the line almost unopposed.  Burgwin nailed the extras.  The second half finished 10 minutes early but after a 47 minute first half overall the supporters had witnessed 70 minutes of rugby.  Final score Newbridge 21 Thornbury 8

The team went through 700 points for the season (just 22 games) in this match.  They are still unbeaten in the Dragons League and will be looking to seal the title with 3 league games in April as well as touring Holland in the middle of the month.

In next weekend’s game The Youth will be showing their support for World Downs Syndrome Day (21st March) by sporting odd socks on the field.  The Youth would also like to wish William Griffiths the very best of luck for his game in Lyon against France U18 next Saturday (18th March).

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