Dragons Development Squad - 8
Gwent District u16s – 20
Virginia Park, Caerphilly
Gwent Warm Up for Welsh Cup Final in Style.
The Gwent district side defeated its Dragons counterpart in a friendly last night at Virginia Park, Caerphilly, in what was the climax for a festival of rugby at Caerphilly’s ‘Big Tackle’ event yesterday.
The Gwent outfit, which are in desperate need of game time before they face Carmarthenshire in the Welsh District Cup Final on the 1st April, filled the void created by Filton College and more than stood up to the challenge.
The game began at a frantic pace, with Gwent dominating possession and territory, but they couldn’t convert pressure into points as they turned the ball over with the line beckoning on three occasions.
It was the Dragons however who came away with the first points of the evening, and after entering the Gwent half for the first time, Outside Half Sam Bevan kicked a successful penalty from 30yards to make it 3-0.
From the restart, Gwent again found themselves deep in the Dragons half, and after securing a turnover ball, quick service from scrum Half Joe Smith and outside half Matt O’Brian , put impressive winger Jonny Morris over in the corner, after some great individual footwork to beat his opposite number. O’ Brian was unsuccessful with the conversion.
The half continued at a frantic pace, with the Gwent side impressing at set-piece, but the only other score of the half was more ‘luck than judgement’, a loose miss pass by O’Brian fell to ground, holding the opposition defence, but bounced nicely into the arms of winger Sam Wood, who needed no assistance in finishing in the corner. This brought the half time score to 10-3 in favour of the Gwent side.
After numerous changes by both camps at half time, the second half begun just like the first, but in this case, Gwent converted territory and possession into points. After an impressive break by ‘Man of the Match’ Leighton Bellamore, good handling and support play brought a deserved try to scrum half Joe Smith, who looked sharp all night. A fourth try swiftly followed, with full back James Morris joining his back by getting on the score sheet.
As the game wore on, and further changes made, mistakes began to creep into both sides play, but with the Dragons, who have only had three sessions together, becoming familiar with one another, some good handling amongst the backs resulted in a deserved try for Oliver Tabbard.
Gwent Coach Chris Cornford was more than happy with the exercise, but stated that “our boys will have to be sharper when we face Carmarthenshire in a months time. Our ball retention and decision making in contact was poor at times, and we need to play a little more ‘heads-up rugby’ when it comes to turnovers, but all in all, it proved to be a worthwhile exercise and will help keep the guys focussed over the next month”.
The Next match for Gwent U16s will be against Carmarthenshire in the Welsh District U16s Cup Final, at the Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon; on April 1st. KO 7:15pm.
For more info on Gwent District 15s/16s/Youth Rugby, contact Monmouthshire Development Officer, Gareth Evans on 07825 845300 or email garethevans@monmouthshire.gov.uk
