Mike Fry Cup Final:

 
 

Davies’s late  kick seals a Crymych  success

Crymych under 17s 27 - Neyland under 17s - 24

 

Venue: Heywood Lane, Tenby
 

Referee: Edward Howells
Assistants:  Gary Wilkes & Carwyn Evans

 
Elliot Davies was the toast of his colleagues in the Crymych under 17 team as the talented outside half landed the last-gasp penalty that sent his team to victory over their counterparts from Neyland, who were playing for their first year in this competition but providing ample proof that they have a strong squad and will surely feature in youth rugby again for next season.
 
Fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout a cracking contest, with total commitment allied to skill levels that ensured there were fantastic handling and competitive play in the contact areas of tackling, ruck and maul that showed a maturity beyond their years – and enjoyed by a large crowd on a Heywood Lane pitch that looked a picture.
 
Neyland had battled back with real vigour in the final stages with a converted try to draw level but from the ensuing drop out they knocked on near their posts, a player fell off side as it rebounded to him and from the resultant penalty Davies kept his nerve to land the three-pointer which saw his team win on an evening where either side could have snatched the verdict.
 

Preseli Men start well before The All Blacks battle back

 
Crymych certainly got off to the better start as they raced into a 14-point lead as  half backs Jac Llewellyn and Davies utilised their pack’s work rate, led by skipper Morgan Evans and fellow second row Lloyd Griffiths, plus a back row of Llyr Mathias, Harri Thomas and Dan Llewellyn.
 
They opened their account when Rhys Eynon and Lucas Colledge fed centre Will  Bowen, who took a direct line and brushed off an opponent en route to the whitewash before Davies added the extra points.
 
Then No 10 Davies added a further seven points as he found the necessary space after more pressure - but The All Blacks did really well to claw their way back into contention as their pack refused to submit, with Harry Wilson, Cai Griffiths, Declan Walters and Gethin Frayling featuring in an attack which saw prop Braydon Jones plough over for an unconverted try.
 
Neyland half backs Ioan Campbell and Kian Jones pushed their pack on the front foot again and Walters joined his co-prop Jones on the scoresheet to leave  them just 10-14 adrift at the interval.
 

Fortunes ebb and flow

 
Neyland continued to hold the initiative after half-time as skipper Josh James, Taio Hein, Bobby Hooper and Cayden Maguire all looked sharp in midfield and they were rewarded when their back row of Iori Morgan, Charlie Evans and Seth Walker featured before Walker added a third try which Josh James converted to increase the lead to three points.
 
Both teams had their half chances but The Preseli Men regained the initiative with a try from full back Rhys Eynon, who had defended well alongside Teo Truslove and Owain Wilcox before he showed his attacking skills on a mazy run to the line, with Davies converting and then adding a penalty to push his team 24-17 ahead.
 
In a rousing finish, Neyland again fought back as Walters grabbed his second try before Josh James converted to level matters and with time running out for either team to seal a certain success.
 
But then came that unfortunate Neyland error to give Crymych the verdict – and the trophy was presented to Crymych captain Morgan Evans by Harry Bolton, the long-time Tenby United player and now club chairman, with Mrs Fry and family members there, as usual..
 
**Missing from the Crymych squad was Iori Thomas, who played superbly in the earlier rounds but sadly, less than a week before this final, sustained an ACL injury and so was forced to sit out the big game. He was apparently one of the first names to go on the team sheet at selection times and his team mates, coaches and supporters wish this talented young player a speedy return to fitness in readiness for next season**



Crymych: Rhys Eynon: Owain Wilcox; Will Bowen: Lucas Colledge; Teo Truslove: Elliott Davies; Jac Llewellin: Meirion Thomas; George Phillips; Dion Jones: Lloyd Griffiths; Morgan Evans (Capt): Llyr Mathias; Harri Thomas; Dan Llewellyn. Replacements: Dafydd Hughes; Barnaby Worth; Mason Price; Kieran Lester; Ioan Pritchard-Morris; Griff Evans; Dafydd Evans; Noa Llwellyn; Finley Jones; Hari Owen.
 
Neyland: Cayden Maguire: Bobby Hooper, Taio Hein; Josh James (Capt); Ollie Barrett; Ioan Campbell: Declan Walters; Gethin Frayling; Braydon Jones: Harry Wilson; Cai Griffiths: Iori Morgan; Charlie Evans; Seth Walker. Replacements: Alfie Cole; Ieuan Roberts; Rhys Scourfield; Connor John; Alfie Candler; Will Gent.

 

 
 
 

 

Mike Fry Plate Final:

 

Young Seasiders beat Young Blues in an excellent Plate Final

 

Tenby under 17s 43 - Haverfordwest under 17s  26

 
Venue: Heywood Lane, Tenby
 
Referee: Matthew John
Assistant Referees:  Dyfrig Dellar & Kieron Burrows
 
The Mike Fry Plate has grown in stature over the years until now, when winning the plate competition is rightly regarded as a real feat, and in this year’s final, between the talented under 17s from Haverfordwest and Tenby United produced a match befitting all that the late Mike Fry stood for - fitness, high skills and total commitment that was thoroughly enjoyed by the large crowd at Heywood Lane.
 
Haverfordwest opened the scoring with a good try by winger Gethin Thomas after quick hands from Robbie Stirling and Manny Davies, with Niall Smith knocking over a superb conversion from the touchline, before The Seasiders responded after good work up front by the back row of Spencer Odley, Iori Evans and Ollie Tucker saw Jack Henson and Sonny Barnes involved before Madoc Evans sliced through to score a try, converted by outside half Davies.
 
But it was the Young Blues who had the better of the rest of the first half as the efforts of Bobby Parr, Lucas Albery, and Josh Slater, alongside back rowers Sean Bolger and Caio Jones helped outstanding No 8 Harvey Thomas plough through and Jake John claim a typical try alongside conversions from Nial Smith and Connor Wesley.
 
In a back-and-fore tussle Tenby added to their opener with an unconverted try by skipper Ethan Lewis and a Sonny Davies’ penalty so that the game was beautifully poised at the break with Haverfordwest leading by 21-15.
 

Seasiders start the second half with a bang

 
But whatever the Tenby coaches said at half time it galvanised their players into raising the tempo as the powerful play up front by James Anderson, Jenson Cornelius , Rhys Barnes and Aidan Guymer saw half backs Jenson and Davies able to call the shots and further tries came as Rhys Barnes scored almost from the kick off and they added further unanswered tries by Terrence Madridakis and skipper Lewis again, with conversions taking them to a 36-21 lead.
 
It says much for The Blues that they were still able to rally and a typical charge and try from Harvey Thomas gave them hope, but Jake Johns’s conversion hit the post and bounced clear.
 
There was still time for another score and it fell for the second time to the power of Madridakis, with Madoc Evans adding the extras to round off a cracking contest, with The Mike Fry Plate presented to Ethan Lewis by Harry Bolton, the long-time former player and now chairman of Tenby United RFC.
 
The Young Seasiders were clearly delighted with victory and inevitably there was disappointment from Haverfordwest but they had a number of players who have been heavily involved recently in youth and schools’ competitions so it might just have been a game too far for them – but both teams helped make it a final to remember, with some high-quality players on both sides!






 
Haverfordwest: Connor Symonds: Gethin Thomas; Robbie Stirling; Manny Davies; George Luff: Nial; Smith; Connor Wesley: Josh Slater; Lucas Albrey; Bobby Parr: Owain Peakman; Ewan Griffiths: Sean Bolger; Ciao Jones; Harvey Jones. Replacements: Charlie Carter; Finn Bruins; Tyler John; Malakai John; Cai Morgans; John; Max Bevan, Ewan Owen. Travelling Reserves: Charlie Hughes; Ayden Davies.
 
Tenby United: Alex Rigby-Scott:  Stan Barker; Tyler James; Madoc Evans; Jay Lort-Phillips: Sonny Davies; Jack Henson: James Anderson; Ethan Lewis (Capt); Jenson Cornelius Rhys Barnes; Aidan Guymer: Spencer Odley; Iori Evans; Ollie Tucker.  Replacements: Griff Jenkins; Terrance Madridakis, Bradley Williams; Logan Hall; Callum Keane; Rafe Kirk-Harries.