News

It was a morning of contrasts this Sunday with a solemn start, for young people to pay their respects to those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice, to make our lives possible today.  All sides did this with honour and impeccable silence. This was followed by a new generation of rugby players, across Wales, continuing to learn and enjoy the game.

The morning had presented itself with striking early sunshine, but conditions deteriorated rapidly as the bitter cold and the heavy rain arrived just as the young players took to the fields to play their games.     

The Sports Mini teams were at home. The Under Sevens played Aberavon Quins, the Eights hosted he Llynfi Valley teams’ Maesteg Welsh and Celtic, the Nines and Tens also played the Quins with Penlan making up a round robin with the Tens, whilst the Elevens travelled to Penarth for a game against Old Penarthians.

It was just the under Twelves from the Junior teams who enjoyed the luxury of playing on the Bandstand Field. The under Thirteens, Fourteens and Fifteens all travelled to Blackwood. The under Sixteens travelled to Waunarlwydd for a return Ospreys cup fixture before they dashed off to an appearance on Scrum V later in the afternoon.

The Under 7s enjoyed a busy week end, acting as flag bearers with the Under Nines at the Ospreys v Wasps game Friday night and then on Sunday, in extremely difficult conditions, they played the Quins. Both teams still found the energy to run in twelve tries as they shared the honours with a 6 – 6 draw.  The Sport’s Rhodri Griffiths set the tone of the day with a dashing break and try early on. He went on to score a further two fantastic tries. Archie Hall and Ollie Balmer showed dazzling footwork as they scored a try each. Tyler Pascoe, Gethin Roberts, Oscar Gee and Leo D’adamo defended the opposition’s attacks. To complete the score sheet the sixth, try came from Ellis Luke, it was Ellis’ first try for his club. He was extremely proud and thoroughly enjoyed his moment of glory.

The Under 8s enjoyed a competitive morning as they edged two games and drew one. They defeated Maesteg Celtic 5-4, then Maesteg Welsh 11-10 before a draw in their final period against the Celtic.

In the Under 9s game, the Quins showed great courage against a strong Sports Under Nines side who put in a strong team performance. Both sides played some great rugby. The Sports scored fifteen tries to the Quins seven. Sports try scorers were Gruff Lewis (2), Lucas Hostettler-Davies, Gethin Evans, Lennon Griffiths (2), Leo Giraud, Jayden Walters, Noah Roberts (2), Rueben Williams, Osian Stephens, Oskar Amerein and Harry Mallinson.

The Under 10s played a Penlan side who were full of intent and life. The Sports were resolute in the first half and led at half time but fell away in the second half as Penlan took the honours 21 – 33.  The Sports coaches saw great improvements in the sides rucking and tackling. With the weather taking over, as Penlan played the Quins, all coaches called a halt to proceedings in the interests of player welfare and safety.

Under 11s – in another trip to a seaside town the Under Elevens took part in a close scrappy, start stop game against Old Penarthians.  It started well as the team kept their shape both in defence and attack scoring two good tries through Ben Evans and Rhys Anthony to outscore Old Penarthians by ten points to nil.

The Junior Teams’ journeys away turned out to be very challenging but a good learning experience for the Thirteens, Fourteens and Fifteens. The Fifteens looked resplendent in their Trevelyan Tiling sponsored new kit. All sides put in a great team effort but failed to prevent Blackwood from dominating the scoreboard in each game. Finally, the Under Sixteens lost a very tough Ospreys Cup game to Waunarlwydd away 29 – 17 before heading off to the Scrum V studios. They remain second in their pool group in the Ospreys cup.