Mike Fry Plate:

 

Fishguard & Goodwick Under 17s -21 Neyland under 17s – 48

 
Venue: Heywood Lane, Tenby
Referee: Paul Tedaldi
Assistants:  Edward Howells and Dave Byrne
 
Neyland Under 17s  and their counterparts from Fishguard and Goodwick produced a plate final where there was action aplenty in a game played at pace and with both teams showing good skill levels and commitment aplenty.
 
Both teams had players who shone, none more so than Neyland skipper Josh James, who showed real class in scoring his two tries and also kicking superbly to land conversions from all over the place, and No 8 Corey Riley, who was involved in almost all his side well, with plenty of others also making useful contributions.
 
For The Young Seagulls,  Iori Cottrell led by example and Iestyn Robb played really well and grabbed a try as well as also pumping over two excellent left-footed conversions alongside working with half back partner Reuben Lerwill in trying to make the best use of limited possession.
 
And it was Fishguard who made the better start as a Neyland knock-on from the kick -off gave The Young Seagulls the platform for their pack to set up a platform in the left corner and good work by Harrison Richards, Rhys Lewis, Sion Morgan and Kyle Thomas allowed hooker Lewis to claim a try that was converted by centre Reuben Gibbs.
 
That early reverse stung Neyland into raising the tempo as their forwards began to make their presence felt in the rucks and mauls so half backs Korey Arran and Kian Jones posed a real threat as they set Josh James Sammy Montgomery and Co into action.
 
They levelled matters when a clever pass by Arran from a scrum sent No 8 Corey Riley in at the posts for James to add the extras.
 
James then took the game by the scruff of the neck as he rounded off good work involving Jamie Sitoe and Henry Mayhew to dive in at the corner and add the difficult conversion – as he did again soon afterwards from a clever little chip ahead and a strong regather  before racing to the line. The Neyland skipper then notched a penalty and for once missed the conversion to a good  try by  flanker Seth Walker that pushed The All Blacks into a 29-7 lead at the interval.
 
Fishguard and Goodwick needed a good start to the second half if they were to claw their way back but The Young All Blacks rocked them back early on with quality tries by Sammy Montgomery and Walker, this time converted by James.
 
Then winger Cai Griffiths, who had looked very strong in defence, showed his attacking prowess sliced through a gap to the right corner and James converted arguably the most difficult kick of the match to make the score 48-7 and surely pleased coaches Mark James and Steve Hamer.
 
It says a great deal for the spirit instilled in The Young Seagulls by coaches Randal Williams, Steve Jenkins and Ray Lerwill that they still battled on and as Neyland introduced their bench found gaps as they settled down,  with skipper Iori Cottrell, Bobby James and Max Rees leading the way as half backs Reuben Lerwill and Iestyn Robb keeping them going forward.
 
Their reward was two very good late tries from replacement Rhys McDonald and No 10 Robb, who pumped over two wide-angled conversions with his left boot and the final margin of defeat at least paid tribute to their efforts against a very good Neyland side.
 
Unfortunately,  a large-scale altercation between the teams near the end didn’t do justice to the game itself because of the earlier standard of play,and the unedifying sight and sounds of raucous encouragement from the nearby terraces did little justice to the spirit of the game and has absolutely no place in any form of sport, let alone an excellent under 17s final like this!

 
Fishguard & Goodwick: Will O’Sullivan: Ethan Salmon; Rob Simmani; Reuben Gibbs; Jack Davies: Iestyn Robb; Reuben Lerwill: Harrison Richards; Rhys Lewis; Sion Morgan: Iori Cottrell (Capt); Kyle Thomas: Max Rees; Ryan Burton; Bobby James. Replacements: Lars Hosse; Dan Machin; Sion Sinnott. Rhys McDonald, Ieuan Woolman.
 

Neyland:  Henry Mayhew: Cai Griffiths; Sammy Montgomery; Josh James (Capt); Jamie Sitoe: Kian Jones; Korey Arran: Finn Bruins; Alfie Thomas; Declan Walters: Marli Swift; Sammy Wilson: Matthew Doncaster; Seth Walker; Corey Rile. Replacements: Rhys Scourfield, Alfie Candler; Ioan Campbell; Bobby Hooper; Charlie Evans; Will Gent; Evan Roberts; Leo Power; Alfie Cole.