Welsh Youth Cup:

 
 

Neyland 0 - Croesyceiliog 7

 
Referee: Ceri Harries (Aberaeron)
Venue: The Athletic Ground, Neyland
 
Neyland Youth’s hopes of making further progress in this national competition were brought to an abrupt halt at home to their counterparts from Croesyceiliog as they conceded a converted try to a physically bigger opposition in the first half but were unable to gain enough quality possession with the elements and slope in their favour in a tight second period.
 
Yet coach Colin Picton could at least be pleased with the way his young charges fought all the way and played some good rugby in the process – but they were unable to make anything of a couple of bouts of real pressure and the side from Gwent moved into the quarter-finals.


 

Neyland battle hard into the elements

 
Croesyceilog’s scrummaging strength was soon in evidence but good defensive work by Asher Gledhill, Lloyd Stephens, Toby Rees, plus the outstanding Seb McIntosh and Lewis Scourfield kept them at bay – and the Young All Blacks battled their way up the slope, where Rhys Power, Tyler Sutton, Liam Rees and Aaron John handled well.
 
Then good work from Jasper Endean, Bobby Jones and McIntosh in the ball-winning stakes saw them being awarded a penalty but Fletcher Picton’s difficult kick into the teeth of the elements drifted wide of the far post.


 

Visitors grab all-important score

 
Croesyceiliog grabbed their all-important score after good work down the right flank by Jack Busby, skipper Sam Harvey and Jordan Parker, who raced through  before centre Kellan Williams supply the scoring pass for right winger Marc Hope to touch down in the corner – and skipper Harvey slotted the very difficult conversion.
 
The second half saw Neyland with a couple of half chances where they went into the visitors’ 22 but were held up just short – and when they were awarded a kickable penalty to try and reduce the deficit they opted to run the ball – and a knock on eased the pressure on Croesyceiliog’s defence.
 
And the final whistle came with the visitors using their forward bulk off the bench to prevent Neyland snatching a draw but the home side could at least take consolation that they pushed the opposition all the way and coach Colin Picton could feel proud of their efforts!



 
Neyland: Aaron John: Lucas Jones; Fletcher Picton; Liam Rees; Tommy Brown: Tyler Sutton; Rhys Power: Asher Gledhill: Seb McIntosh; Lloyd Stephens: Lewis Scourfield; Toby Rees; Bobby Jones; Jasper Endean: Dylan Evans. Replacements: Kai McMurray; Finlay Picton; Harvey Miles; Owen Turner; Zac Evans; Joel Thomas; Morgan James.
 
Croesyceiliog: Aedan Wiltshire: Morgan Hall; Kellan Nicholls; Jordan Parker; Marc Hope: Sam Harvey; Jack Busby: Callum Skinner; Jayden Jones; Ben Haggerty: Kian Harvey; Noah Benn: Evan Courtney; Jacob Marsh; Jake Oram. Replacements: Rhys Williams; Callum Swain; Kaden Brown; Morgan Hutton; Jordan Athay; Max James; Scott Gill.