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Griffiths Cup Final:

 

Griffiths Cup goes to Crymych

 

Crymych 21 - Haverfordwest 12

 

Venue: The Athletic Ground, Neyland.

Referee: Lorenzo Giacci.

Touch Judges: Tony Pratt & Neil Jenkins.

 

Crymych showed what a talented group of players they have at under 18 level as they shaded out an equally skilful Haverfordwest outfit in a thoroughly absorbing Griffiths Cup Final at its traditional home in Neyland.

Both teams tried to run the ball at every opportunity and there was action aplenty throughout, although some of the intensity was taken away from the contest since there were uncontested scrums from the outset, but the tackling was whole-hearted, the commitment very evident, and a pace that showed how fit both sides were.

Crymych certainly made the better start as the young Blues were penalised early on and Crymych outside half Rhys Dow punished their errors with three well-struck penalties – and then converted a well-worked try scored by pacy winger Dylan Ladd.

But Haverfordwest refused to submit and by the interval they had reduced the deficit to seven points as their No 10 Ashley Sutton also found the target with three penalty kicks.

Tight second half

Sutton added another penalty as the Blues poured down the slope, and with Luke Harvatt and Max Curtis looking a real threat in the midfield alongside Kern Cunningham. They went close in the left corner a couple of times but Crymych not only defended well via Rhodri Lewis, Matthew Roebuck and Sion Rowlands but they also went close themselves when winger Aaron Tomkinson powered his way through several tackles before being hauled down by two defenders.

The Preseli Men finally settled the issue when an attack led by inspirational skipper Dafydd Phillips and his pack allowed nippy scrum half Amir Jawawalji to score as reward for his work around the fringes. Dow missed the conversion but by then it mattered little because Crymych were able to hold on well so that skipper Phillips could receive the trophy from Jenny and Mike Griffiths.

Crymych:  Rhodri Lewis: Aaron Tomkinson; Matthew Roebuck; Sion Rowlands; Dylan Ladd: Rhys Dow; Amir Jawawalji: Osian Phillips; Dafydd Phillips; Rhodri Davies: Jacob Bean; Dyfan Jenkins: Alex Humphreys; Tomos George; Dan Jenkins. Replacements: Matthew House; William Bolton; Aled Matthews; Alun Gowman; Will Collins. Coaches: Kevin Phillips & Tudor Harries. Team Manager: Gary Phillips.

Haverfordwest: Kern Cunningham: Rhys Baker; Luke Harvatt; Max Curtis; Connor Bashford: Ashley Sutton; Danny Morgans: Andrew Bolton; Ryan Evans; Huw Edwards: Johnny Stowell; Dan Jenkins:  Gareth Thomas; Asher Davies; Ryan Banner. Replacements: Damian Edwards; Ollie Evans; Ben Llewellyn; Daniel Newsham; Gareth Evans. Coaches: Steve Barnett & Andy Curtis. Team Manager: Steve O’Leary.

 

PHOTOS: Top to bottom.

Crymych U18s celebrate.

Runners up Haverfordwest U18s.

Dafydd Phillips receives the Griffiths Cup from Jenny and Mike, of the Griffiths' family.
Dafydd Phillips and his family - can you recognise the old timer?