Young Men of Gwent Extend Unbeaten Record
Gwent U15s 20 v 5 Dorset & Wiltshire U15s
Fresh from their storming win against Bristol last Sunday, the Young Dragons this time travelled to Chippenham to play Dorset & Wiltshire.
For the 2nd week running their opponents were a lot bigger, but this time their opponents were very well prepared and for the first quarter of the game controlled proceedings. Stubborn defence meant they came away empty handed and the Welshmen were soon on the ascendency with Hooker Micky Blake driving into the heart of the W&D defence, forcing a penalty, which Josh Pearce coolly slotted to take the lead somewhat against the run of play.
Straight from the kick off the Gwent boys were on the attack again. This time centre Pearce and Outside half Dan Haille broke the line, but the last pass went to ground and W&D counter attacked with the loose ball to score an excellent try.
The rest of the first half was a nervous affair, Gwent constantly breaking the line, but frustratingly failing to finish those clean breaks with the scores they deserved, which meant that the Gwent Boys were behind at half time for the first time this season.
The 2nd half was a different story, Gwent took total control at scrum and line out and continued to impress behind. Nerves were settled when Captain Jack Williams scored his 3rd try in 2 weeks from an excellent driving line out.
Then the back 5 of the scrum started to take control, 2nd Rows Josh van Male, Cameron Regan, and the back row of Leon Parke, Man of the Match Rob Smith and Chris Dickenson constantly charged aggressively into and beyond the heart of the W& D defence.
Unfortunately Parke ended up in the sin bin for 10 minutes after being adjudged to be too aggressive in the tackle.
Despite being a man down, after another driving line out it was replacement Scrum Half Steve Brown who emanated Williams as he dived over from the rolling maul.
It was all Gwent now, and the backs were exploiting weak defending with strong running from Centres Pearce and Alex Lovell, Wing Tom Ashmead and Full Back Dan Obrien, who were all outstanding in the 2nd period.
It was Lovell who copied his 2 team mates before him, as he became the 3rd player to score 2 weeks on the trot, after replacement Hooker Jake Smith had taken a strike against the head, Brown darted open and fed Lovell on an excellent straight run which was unstoppable. Pearce added the extras for an impressive 20-5 victory.
GWENT TEAM 1. Jack Williams(C)-NHSOB / 2. Mickey Burke - Cwmbran / 3. Tom Mathews – RTB Ebbw Vale / 4. Josh van Male – Valley Rhinos / 5. Cameron Regan RTB Ebbw Vale / 6. Chris Dickenson – RTB Ebbw Vale / 7. Richard Summers – St Josephs / 8. Rob Smith – Garndiffaith
9. Mathew Davies – Garndiffaith / 10 Dan Haille – Valley Rhinos / 11. Josh Durran Staples – Caldicot / 12. Alex Lovell – NHSOB / 13. Josh Pearce – RTB Ebbw Vale / 14. Tom Ashmead – Valley Rhinos. / 15. Dan Obrien – St Josephs
16. Carl Burgess – St Josephs / 17. Jake Smith - Garndiffaith / 18. Dan Maguire - NHSOB / 19. Leon Parke – St Josephs / 20. Steve Brown RTB Ebbw Vale / 21. Jonny O’Neil NHSOB / 22. Spencer Crawley – Valley Rhinos / 23. Liam Crandon – Valley Rhinos
