News

Dylan Bartlett, Zach Hewlett and Taylor Hansen have been selected for Wales U18s.  This is a huge achievement for the lads and Newbridge Youth.  It is a huge source of pride for everyone involved with the Club and yet another thoroughly deserved honour.

The Youth provided 13 players to the Dragons U18s team that finished 2^nd in the Regional League with just losses to the Champion Scarlets and one on a long trip up to RGC.  The Newbridge lads were particularly prominent as Jack Littlejohns Captained the side and during January's 6 games not only did Jack get a try but Zac Hewlett got 2, Matt Jefferies, Ollie Howard, Garin Price, Dylan Bartlett, Taylor Hansen, Iwan Burgwin and Luke Shore also scored.  Nathan Evans, Benjy Hoppe, Dylan Davies and Joel Witcombe were our other Newbridge Dragons.

A large number of the Youth players have also helped Coleg Gwent to reach the semi-final of the Welsh Colleges Cup which is due to be played in the next 3 weeks.

DC have also had a great month in January with 3 league wins over Brynmawr 22-12, Chepstow 8-0 and an outstanding 53-0 against Bargoed II.  This excellent run has propelled the team up the Dragons “C” division to 2^nd and put them in contention for the title if they can win each of their remaining games.

DA returned to action for the first time since December 9^th last night (Friday 2^nd) with a League game against Abergavenny Youth.  Huge thanks to Abercarn RFC for allowing the Youth to borrow their pitch and floodlights. With the majority of their Dragons still unavailable and the 2 month layoff it was a bare 16 that was pulled together. The first half saw Newbridge score quickly through hooker Joel Gilbert but Abergavenny didn’t lie down at all and scored an excellent try to make it 7-7 at the half time break. Newbridge had probably missed around 5 trys in the half through rustiness, cobwebs or for some other bizarre reason.  Even with the ref playing an extra 5 minutes they didn’t get the decision as they clearly grounded the ball from a driving lineout only for the ref to be unsighted.

Abergavenny showed why this league is so tight, as despite being towards the bottom of the table they bombed a couple of good try opportunities themselves which would have seen them take the lead.  It was a more controlled effort after the break. Newbridge scored 4 more trys in the second half through Tyler Smith, Cole Jones and two for Callum Barton making his DA debut. Robbie Turley converted 3 and was very unlucky from wide out with the other 2 to make the final score 31-7.

So DA move back to the top of the Dragons Youth “A” League continuing their unbeaten run.  It may be Valentines day in a couple of weeks but there will be no love this month on the field for DA. Next week sees the vital home league clash with nearest rivals for the title Senghenydd. Then the 17^th it’s the Welsh Youth Cup quarter final at Swansea Uplands.  22^nd is a Thursday night game at Bedlinog RFC against Nelson in the Caerphilly Youth Cup quarter final followed by the return league match at Senghenydd on Saturday 24th.