Newport Lead Way for Dragons Dewar Shield
Last weekend saw the first round of competitive matches for the regions Dewar Shield Districts, with all but Islwyn schools in action. With The Rhondda Schools currently partaking in a tour of New Zealand, the Islwyn boys will have to wait to get their competitive season off the ground. This left the Blaenau Gwent Schools kick off the season by welcoming Merthyr to Abertillery Park.
After two defeats in pre-season, Blaenau Gwent looked to kick off their campaign with a victory over their Merthyr neighbours. After a tense opening twenty minutes which saw both teams nullify each other, it was Merthyr who established a half time lead of 8-0 thanks to a penalty and a try just before the stroke of half time where a lineout was cleverly executed to score in the corner. The second half continued in the same vain as the first, with both teams matching each other, but it was the Blaenau Gwent forwards that started to take the ascendancy, and half way through the second half, flanker Josh Davies scored their first try from a driving maul. This brought the game back to a one score deficit, and with three minutes to go, Blaenau Gwent seemed to have their season up and running when Jack Williams crossed after again, constant pressure from the now dominant forwards after some good close phase play. Aaron Humphries kicked the conversion to take the Young North Gwent men to 12-8 with time almost up. On the last play however, Merthyr scored an opportunist try with the final play. After a speculative kick up-field, Blaenau Gwent failed to secure the ball and deal with in accordingly. From the resulting penalty, a quick ruck under the posts and two passes blind sent the Merthyr winger into the corner for a winning score of 13-12.
Head Coach Nicky Prichard was upbeat despite the final outcome. “We created plenty of opportunities, we just weren’t clinical enough and didn’t execute. There were some stand out performances however, David Rubasniak, Matt Charles and young Jordan Smith up front impressed as did Joe Williams and Olly Richards. The guys will learn from this that they have to take their chances when they present themselves”.
Pontypool Schools, who had kicked off their pre-season with impressive 48-7 and 20-0 victories over Neath and Newport respectively travelled away to Ystradgynlais to face last years’ Semi Finalists Swansea Valley. Unfortunately, the game kicked off thirty minutes late due to the referee not turning up, and many wish that he never had. Swansea Valley started the brightest and looked hungrier for possession, and good field position and an indiscretion at the breakdown resulted in their first penalty to make it 3-0. Almost immediately from the restart, with their first concentrated period of possession, Pontypool hit back. After some great turnover ball at the breakdown, good service from Josh Malson and Jarred Rosser allowed Lloyd Evan Lewis to race home from forty metres. Scott Lewis secured the conversion. With Pooler now showing their intent to spread the ball when possible, Swansea Valley responded, with a well taken try for their winger, who caused trouble all afternoon by kicking behind the defensive line and backing his pace to pressurise the Pooler back three. Swansea Valley continued to add the scores, with the assistance of some dubious refereeing decisions and poor Pontypool indiscipline, and another penalty and try took the score to 18-7 just before half time.
This period seemed to galvanise Pontypool who within the space of a frantic twenty minutes either side of half time had two players sent to the bin. Back rower Lloyd Phillips, who was without doubt the stand out Pooler forward, and replacement Joseph Lewis, who was sin binned for an offence when he was nowhere near the incident. It was also during this period however that Pooler responded by building the phases and looking after possession. This resulted in tries for Jared Rosser and a second for speedster Lloyd Evan Lewis. Scott Lewis secured one conversion to put Pooler ahead 19-18. From here on in, it seemed that every decision went against Pontypool and with only two minutes left on the clock, Swansea Valley scored a crucial try thanks to constant possession and territory from numerous penalties. With the score now at 23-19 to the hosts, Pontypool had to regain the restart and maintain ball to score a try to secure victory. They managed to do the first, but unfortunately, yet again, were dubiously penalised, and with the side out on their feet, Swansea Valley raced away for another try with the final play to secure a 30-19 victory.
They say you learn more in defeat than in victory, well this result will certainly provide the pooler players with a taste of what’s to come in this competition. Regular opposition that can play with the same accuracy and intensity, and the pooler pack, front five especially will need to play at a higher intensity, especially within and between breakdowns if they are to fulfil their potential this campaign.
It was Newport who most certainly got the Season underway when it mattered for Gwent, and Chris Cornfords’ youngsters will be keen to build on last seasons’ silver-wear success in the Morgan Griffiths Bowl this time out.
They impressed against a new Swansea A Outfit and took the ascendancy almost immediately with a penalty from centre Rob Wainwright. The first Newport try came for impressive second row Bryce Morgan on ten minutes after some sustained pressure, and from then until half time the floodgates opened. Four tries followed within a ten minute period. The first came for speedster James Masters on the wing, followed swiftly by back three partner Matt Dodderidge. Powerful tight head Leon Brown then bagged a try for the forwards and winger Dario Germain completed the set for the back three minutes from half time. Wainwright kicked one conversion to make the score 30-0 at the half time break.
After the break, Swansea showed some resolute defence to withstand the Newport onslaught for twenty minutes, but finally the pressure told, and Bryce Morgan bagged a brace to complete his hat-rick for the afternoon. The first was earned through forward power, but the second was from good turnover ball deep in their own half by impressive Ben Watts, and after some slick interplay by James Masters, Morgan himself, Jordan Tyler and centre nightingale, in was Bryce who continued his support to finish the move off, which Wainwright converted for a comprehensive 42-0 victory.
Stiffer tests lie ahead for Newport, but you can only play what’s in front of you and the Newport Pack, lead by the impressive Lewis Johnson in the second row will be a match for any pack in this competition, and with the platform they had today, the backline functioned with good fluency.
The next round of matches kick off this week, with the big game being played at Pontypool Park on Wednesday 5th October, where Pontypool schools and Blaenau Gwent Schools play the first competitive derby of the season. Both teams will be looking to get the disappointment of this round behind them. Newport travel to Brecon on the 7th for a 5:00pm KO vs South Powys where they’ll look to build on their promising start.
Gareth Evans
Dragons District Rugby in Association with
