Fixture

Newbridge RFC | Youth Team Under 18 40 - 12 Rhydyfelin RFC | Youth Team Under 18

Match Report
07 March 2017 / Team News

Galloping Garin

NEWBRIDGE YOUTH   40   RHYDYFELIN YOUTH   12

Friday evening at the Welfare had a real Newbridge Rugby Family feel to it as pretty much every team at the club was represented in a very large crowd to watch firstly the under 12’s play English tourists Cobham RFC and then the Youth take on Blues Division 2 league leaders Rhydyfelin.

The whole Youth team had turned up a couple of hours before their kick off to join a crowd numbered in the hundreds.  They were to be very impressed and even a little envious of the classy and extremely well organised Under 12s who ran in try after well executed try against their English opponents.  In fact so many trys were scored that the referee struggled to keep up with the youngsters.

The youth teams in the main event of the evening were then welcomed onto the field by a huge guard of honour that was formed by theTitans, Vikings, Warriors, Spartans and many more of the Newbridge Mini and Junior family.

Rhydyfelin came out all guns blazing with their forwards carrying well and the backs running good lines.  In the first 10 minutes it looked like it was going to be a very difficult night for the smaller and younger Newbridge lads.  Rhydyfelin scored an excellent try and looked good value indeed for their 5-0 lead.

The youth welcomed back U16 International prop Nathan Evans along with fellow Dragons Under 18 front rowers Zach Hewlett and Taylor Hansen.  These three along with outside half Iwan Burgwin were all fresh from the Welsh Under 18 Regional Final against Ospreys Under 18s on Tuesday night.  The scrums were a pleasure to watch as the smaller Newbridge front 5 dominated their much taller and bulkier opponents.  The advantage of a more mobile and all round skilled one to five was evident thoughout the game.  Hewlett as always was devastating with the big hits - in particular on his opposite number.  In the boiler house Tyler Smith was dwarfed by his opposite numbers but seemed to be everywhere as he carried relentlessly making good ground every single time.  Hewlett’s lineouts were real quality as he threw with the accuracy and speed of a quarterback to his wide receivers.  His main wider receiver for the evening was open side and captain Euan Lewis whose hands must have had a coating of super glue tonight.  It was this reliable combination from a 5 metre lineout that allowed the tireless Morgan Thomas to control the drive over the line only for the ref to award a penalty try.  Burgwin drilled home his first of the night.

Territorial advantage belonged to the smaller lads in blue during the first half and despite some quality breaks and breath taking backs moves they just couldn’t cross the line until once more Burgwin worked his magic and his hands were way too fast for the Rhydefylin eyes as centre Ioan Lloyd appeared from nowhere to ghost in under the sticks completely unopposed.  Burgwin added the extras.

In the back three TRYler Lewis was his usual speedster, brutal self as he rounded the defence a couple of times and smashed his way through when the traffic was heavy.  On the other wing Tom Deinko was unlucky to be brought down with a suspiciously shoulder high hit just metres short of the whitewash.  With the wings replaced in the second half Dafydd Clissett and Joe Hacker continued where their predecessors had left off with Clissett bringing down the dangerous Rhydefylin hooker with some big tackles.  At full back, Joel Witcombe not only pulled off a couple of try saving tackles but was sublime in attack with mazy, quality breaks that gained tens of metres on every occasion.

Half time it was 12-5 to The Youth.

Rhydefylin were allowed some possession in the final stanza although Jack Littlejohns who had been impressive with the ball in hand snuffed out the attacks with some choice tackles.  As Rhydyfelin tried to put the ball through hands centre Cae Richings read the play perfectly to intercept and skin the chasing defender.  Burgwin pushed the score out further with the conversion.

U17 Rugby League International Garin Price at number eight scored the fourth with a superb solo effort. He picked up from the back of a scrum in the 22 and showed a stunning turn of speed to outpace the opposition backline and score under the posts down the other end of the pitch.  Burgwin once again converted.

Momentary lack of focus allowed the visitors 10 to chip ahead and twice kick on before touching down for a good solo effort.  The conversion was good too.

Then normal service was resumed as TRYler Lewis’ speed and power on the wing allowed him to hit the floor four times riding out four separate tackles and returning to his feet. Eventually, he strung the off load to Garin Price who popped to the supporting George Price to touch down.  Burgwin nailed the extras once more.

Scrum half Cole Jones worked hard to keep the continuous stream of possession flowing out to the exciting backline and his replacement Zach Morgan continued in the same vein.  Morgan also did well to draw the penalty which lead to the next try.  Burgwin took the penalty quickly before the backs fed the excellent Garin Price to score his 20th try of the season in just 18 games.

Final score: Newbridge Youth 40 Rhydyfelin 12

Everyone at the club would like to congratulate hooker William Griffiths on his selection for the Welsh Under 18s Trial match.  Just like all but 2 of this seasons Youth squad Griff is an Under 17 player.  He will not be phased by the representative level though as he played in the Wales Under 16 team that beat England last year.

Players Fixture player info not published.
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