The rugby skills of youngsters from under 7 to under 16 were very much on view at Bierspool, the home of Pembroke Dock RFC, as the club superbly hosted this annual event which, after an unavoidable two-year absence, was back with a bang.
 
Small wonder then that Kenny Davies, organiser of the event under the auspices of the  Pembrokeshire and District Junior Rugby Association was delighted by the way things went as he told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk
 
“It has been a real feast of junior rugby, with great support from family and friends where there has been no hassle – and all credit must go to Andrew McDonald, who has organised the outstanding programme, facilities and everything else, on behalf of The Quins, plus the sponsorship from local businesses.
 
“I would also like to thank Sarah Hill, our long-serving treasurer and registrations officer, Delyth Bryan and Hannah Albery for their great support.
 
“Richard Allen has been a very knowledgeable announcer, ably assisted by his technical guru Lionel Nutting, and our referees, all volunteers, have been excellent – and as usual I must thank PembrokeshireSport.co.uk for their continued support over many years.”
 
 









 
 
UNDER 7s FINAL:
 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins v Narberth
 
The festival part of this marvellous day began with the under sevens from host club The Quins and Narberth showing the sheer joy of youngsters who are being introduced to the game and love having the ball in hand or chasing after opponents when they are defending.
 
It is played on half a pitch and there is no contact involved - and each player wears a yellow tag attached to their waist so that when that is removed by an opponent the player has to stop and pass the ball. After six successful tags, possession is handed over to the opposition!
 
There is no competitive element encouraged and this game provided great entertainment, with players already catching the eye, for a supportive crowd and as Quins’ coach Gareth Scourfield told us afterwards, this age group is the first building block along the way for some of the youngsters to develop into the star players of the future!
Congratulations to both squads – you deserved the medals you all received!
 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins U7s:
Squad Players:
Reuben Parsons; William Scourfield ; Oscar Davies; Charlie Palmer ; Jake Davies ; Josh Gregory ; Trystan Picton-Jones ; Mathew Durham; Caleb Goldsworthy ; Parker Davies
Coaches:
Gareth Scourfield, Barry Parsons
 
Narberth U7s:
Squad players:
Danny Rhys Evans; Morgan Llewellyn Rees; Samuel Oliver Michael
Gateley-Preece; Joseph Henry Russell Hughes; Erin Rhia Davies; Frankie Alexander Polydorou; Noah Leigh 
Coaches: Steven (Nathan) Evans, Dylan Walsh Manager: Deserae Walker
 
 











 
UNDER 8s FINAL: 
 
Llangwm v Tenby
 
This match was played under the same principles and at the same time as the under sevens’ game and again it could be seen that the emphasis was on developing skills and having fun, rather than looking for a victory where the result mattered more than anything else.
 
Again both squads involved had seven players on half the pitch at any time, with rolling subs over two halves of ten minutes, and with every encouragement from their coaches on the sidelines.
 
One of the Tenby coaches is James Caine, whose son Freddie was involved, and he told us that there is the same emphasis as a year ago, with the tag system still used to prevent contact but with players beginning to raise their skill levels and to look for more accuracy in their play. Indeed, Tenby have 38 registered players at this age group as proof oh how popular it is!
 
We could see the players’ awareness in their second season really improving and again it was great to see the encouragement provided by every coach, alongside the loud cheers of a crowd enjoying the game.
 
As at under seven level, every player receives a memento – and boy did they deserve it!
 
Llangwm U8s:
Squad players:
Teddy Evans; Percy Harrod; Iolo Hughes; Steffan Hughes; Gethin James; Anwen Llewellyn;
Charlie Miles; Ashton Nicholas; Freddie Nichols; Travis Scale; Oliver Underwood ; Sebastian Vickers; Ontai Bampoqui.
Coaches: Nick Hughes, Hamish Nichols    Team Manager: Graham Evans
 
Tenby Under 8s:
Squad Players:
Joey Aston; Iolo Badham; Iwan Brace; Freddie Caine;  Toby Evans; Samuel Fecci; Geoffrey Martin; Harry Thomas; Billy Thomas, Iwan Williams.
Coaches: Mark Badham, Geoff Martin; James Caine; Phil Williams.
Team Manager:  Danny Brace   Physio: Oliver Martin; Hydration: Max Williams
 










 
 
UNDER 9s FINAL:
 
Tenby v Whitland
 
The matches in this age group are still played on half a pitch and give the participants their first chance to experience contact rugby, with tackling permitted for the first time but, with a single tackler involved and with no hand-offs allowed– and with great care taken to ensure that participants are confident in these newly-coached areas. After six tackles the ball is passed to the opposition.
 
There are still no lineouts and mauling is not part of the game at this stage, again composed of two ten-minute halves, - and teams comprise ten players at a time, with roll-on replacements. A development is that uncontested scrums are allowed, with five players in each team taking part but not allowed to push.
 
The games can still be played with boys and girls involved and there are 10 girls in the Whitland squad, some of whom have come through from under seven rugby and showing massive strides in their rugby skills so that they have impressed at local festivals. Indeed, it is worth knowing that all four coaches have girls taking part for The Borderers!
 
Tenby also have one talented young lady and I know they are eager to recruit more so an open invitation is there for a visit to Heywood Lane!
 
We are so glad that both teams enjoyed a cracking exhibition of skills and really pleased an enthusiastic crowd - and were a credit to their coaches and their club before they deservedly collected their medals for taking part!
 
Tenby U9s:
Squad players:
Ben Appleton; Jacob Davies; Florence Harland; Oscar Hart; Emilio Hernandez; Harry Howells; Caden Jones; Bowen King; Harri Leigh; Noah Powling; Vinnie Savvanash; Jamie Spencer; Noa Watt; Zac Williams; Harvey Nicholas.
Coach/Manager:  Martin Jones
 
Whitland U9s:
Squad players:
Gwenllian Dent; Arron Wray; Tyler Morgan; Carys Phillips; William Jones; Owen Davie; Hana Gabillia; Gwen Watson; Gwen Davies; Osian Davies; Isabella Davies; Sophia Cooper; Morgan Oeppen; Nina  Georgiou; Amelia Malpeli Thomas; Gwylim Lewis; Jade Jones 
Coaches: Kate Richards, Judith Watson, Mike Georgiou and Haydn  Gabillia.
 












 
 
UNDER 10s FINAL:
 
Neyland v Pembroke
 
How these young players seem to shoot up, year by year and again it was great to see how coaches add to their existing skills whilst developing awareness of the needs of the game at their age.
 
Like the previous years’ matches the game was played on half a pitch, with coaches on the side lines giving encouragement as the players show they have developed their tackling area and can make an effective contest for the ball afterwards All tackles must be made below the waist and can now be made by more than one tackler at a time.
 
They were now playing ten a side for two halves of 15 minutes with five forwards and five backs, and again with unlimited replacements from the bench. The forwards have to use a 5:2 formations and only the scrum half putting the ball in can pick it up after it is heeled – there is also still no lineout but kicking out of a team’s own 22 is now allowed.
 
I have seen a number of the finals in this age group over the years and this one was certainly up there with the best because it was very clear that team-work is developing and both sets of coaches have obviously done a great deal of work with their young charges – so well done gentlemen!
 
Neyland U10s:
Squad players:
Macsen Abbott; Ava Phillips; Logan Kinnersley; Mesake Cataki; Braidy Gregain; Karter Williams; Maxi Rodrigues; Ethan Holmes; Evan Hewitt; Noah Hewitt; Cian Riley; Finley Neale; Rohan Davenport; Jack Riley; Jack Stoddard; William Henderson; Euan Lawlor; Archie Hannon; Mason Banner.
Coaches: Shane Abbott; Andrew Phillips; Jack Kinnersley.
 
Pembroke U10s:
Squad Players:
Toby Ayres; Dexter Brown; Rhys Brown; Dylan Elliott; Lewis Heath; Aaron James; Tiger Jenkins; Indya Lyeseight-Jones; Jack Mears; Evan Midgley;  Louie Parsley; Thomas Russell; Harry Scourfield; Jacob White; Rhys White; Tristan Williams; Cody Culshaw.
Coaches:  Patrick Russell, James White.




 
 
 



 
UNDER 11s FINAL:
 
Fishguard v Tenby
Referee: Aled Walters
 
The under 11s match between Tenby and Fishguard was undoubtedly one of  the hardest-fought games of the afternoon as the result was in doubt until the final whistle.
 
And after such a sterling effort by both clubs there was only one score as Tenby open-side flanker Ethan Brace had the touchdown as reward for his efforts
Olive Toy also played well at outside half and Nancy Wright showed why she has been county captain with her work-rate.
 
Fishguard had county players in William Miles, Jake Williams, Toby Jones and Owain Williams but hard as their squad tried they were unable to turn pressure into points.
 
Dewi Horland was player of the match for Tenby and Dewi George was selected as player of the match for Fishguard, with Aled Walters doing a good job as an experienced referee.
 
 
Fishguard U11s:
Squad players:
Ioan Barrington; Steffan Cornock; Dafydd Cottrell; Dewi George; Lola Harries
Jac Jenkins; Charlie Kenniford; Charlie Miles; William Miles; Charlie Mansell; Rhys Richards; Harry Smith; Jake Williams; Owain Williams; Cayden Willmann; Iestyn Wilmott.
Coaches: Rhys Williams, Mathew George               
Assistant Coach – Nigel Wilmott    Team Manager: Rhys Williams
 
Tenby U11s:
Squad players:
Dewi Horland; Iwan Wright; Filip Noga; Nancy Wright; Ion O’Rouke; Corwyn Williams; Trus Davies; Edward Touch; Olie Toy; Toby Hilling; Ethan Brace; Dexter Cromwell; Jevan Guymer; Iestyn Cole; Blake Ryder; Archie Noyce.
Coaches: Asley Bonser, Andrew Walters, Matt Busby    Manager: Sophie Toy