Fixture

Penallta RFC | Youth Team Under 18 14 - 15 Aberavon Quins RFC | Youth Team Under 18

Match Report
20 May 2015 / Team News

Penallta Youth 14 Aberavon Quins Youth 15

With the final of the League Winners Cup awaiting the victors this game was always going to be a close and tense affair, played out on a quality surface within the pretty setting of the Glamorgan Wanderers RFC in the suburbs of Cardiff with a vociferous support for the “Band of Brothers”.  There was a feeling of trepidation amongst the travelling fans, as they witnessed this Quins’ team biggest loss in the final of this competition last season, this was not a feeling reflected within the coaching and playing squad, with revenge being the motivating factor.  The recent run of games as seen the Quins play some thrilling rugby and this run as instilled a steely confidence.

The game itself was played out in a relatively strong breeze with Penallta winning the toss and opting to use the element, Quins started very brightly and from a close range lineout the pack drove over the try line but good technical defence kept the ball carrier, Luke Davies, up on his feet and over the dead ball line.  This was a rare injection into to the Penallta half, with the Dragons champions taking control and virtually camped out in the Osprey champions half.  Despite this, the lock-tight defence of the Quins mid field lead by Quade Boal and ably supported by Jack Dacey and David Morley ensured they gained little up the middle. With Penallta’s well structured attacking game they decided to take the  wider option in their attempt to breech the Quins defence, here they found little purchase with the back three of Harley Evans, Kyle Williams and Nathen Egan showing great discipline and no little bravery with hits aplenty.  The Quins forwards showed their mettle and pressured Penallta at both scrum and lineout, flame haired lock forwards Callum Beynon and Jon Thomas soaring high and competing strongly, The Quins front row of Mike Burgess, Tyler Hopkins and Luke Davies seemed in the ascendency, constantly nudging their opposition backwards. The concern was the pedantry nature of the officials, this lead to the yellow card being showed to pack leader Burgess for a minor binding offence.  I have some sympathy with the referees who have a plethora of petty laws to apply at this complex restart. The half time whistle sounded with the scorers unemployed but with the Quins happier of the two teams with the nil nil.

The second half  kicked into life literally as well as metaphorically with Dai Morley slotting a early 35 metre penalty,  with the Quins forwards starting to win their line outs and gaining strong field position,  the back row of Aris Kolazakis, Conor O’Callaghan and Dylan Mclauchlan came into their own, choke tackling, counter rucking and “jackling” ball at every opportunity.  Penallta showed great resilience, winning some good ground despite facing the wind, one such field position lead to the first try of the game. With ball spread wide and near the touchline, a great off load in field seen the ball passed slickly along the line and with a mismatch and  a clever short pass seen the Penallta  flanker crash over under the posts. The conversion was an easy effort despite the breeze.  There was concern amongst the Quins support, they has a team have rarely been behind this season and their character was in question.  How well they responded showing that this team has buckets full of character and some. From the restart the forwards upped their efforts and pressurised their opponents,  a string of penalties  give the Quins great field position and captain Jacob Flynn noticed a gap in the defence, shunning the kick he tapped quickly, Conor O’ Callaghan was on hand to smash his way through a defender to score near the post.  David Morley slotted the extras. The Quins started to take control with a steady supply of quality ball, field position was essential and some good kicking out of hand by Flynn, Morley, Dacey and Williams ensured this.

From a scrum on the edge of the 22m line the Quins opted to go blind with O’Callaghan and Flynn combining to put Nathen Egan over for a five pointer wide out.  The Quins were now 15 points to 7 up and in control. Fresh forwards Dan Helson, Nathen Robins and Conner Davies where  added to the fray and showed up well.   With the time starting to run out Penallta threw caution to the wind and attacked on all fronts from all parts of the field. Fingernails were chewed hair was pulled and voices became hoarse.  With only minutes left Penallta scored their second converted try to make it 15/14 and it become twitchy bum time. The final two minutes was seen out by this exceptionally good Quins youth team and a famous victory was achieved. A special mention to my MOM Dylan Mclauchan, who was outstanding at turning over vital ball at maul and tackle area.   The squad moves on to the Final at the Cardiff Arms Park Saturday 23rd May v Nant Conway who defeated Pontypridd in the other semi.

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