PHOTOS:
Delighted winners Haverfordwest
Runners up Whitland
Match officials
Cole Barry receives the trophy

Griffiths Cup Final:

 

Haverfordwest Under 18s 12 - Whitland Under 18s 6

 
Venue: The Athletic Ground, Neyland
Referee: Jason Summers (Fishguard)
Touch Judges: Charlie Watts (Neyland) and Steven Phillips-Harries (Johnston)
 
Haverfordwest’s gritty young under 18 team repelled the powerful late surges from their counterparts from Whitland to win the Griffiths Cup in an absorbing clash played out in difficult conditions at its traditional home.
 

All-out attack and desperate defence

 
The Cup is held in memory of some great players from the Griffiths’ family who played for the Pembrokeshire All Blacks of yesterday and they would have approved of the skill levels shown alongside total commitment in both camps, especially in those very long final ten minutes when the Young Borderers pounded away down the slope and only desperate defence by the Young Blues somehow kept them out.
 
This was typified by the way that Whitland half backs Aron Ebsworth and Steffan James set up attacks where Ryan Davies, Scott Lloyd and Gino Setaro all went perilously close but were halted by superb tackling from Haverfordwest full back Dan Rawlings, ably assisted by his entire set of backs, plus Ieuan Bevan, Kyle Williams, Cole Barry and skipper Morgan Layton, alongside the rest of their pack.
 

Bright start from Young Blues

Haverfordwest made the better start with the slope and elements in their favour and half backs Elgan Roberts and Dan Harding, taking a break from Welsh League football, called their backs into action as Dax Leggett, Jake Evans, Aidan Hanner, Kyle Hamer and Barry were key ball winners.
 
They established a 12-0 lead at the interval as good runs from George Hart and Liam Jones set up the chance for two tries by winger Geraint Powell and centre Gavin Jenkins, who also added a conversion after a couple of penalty chances had been put wide in the wind.

 
All change after half time

 
But it was a different story after the interval as the Young Borderers gained the ascendancy via the work-rate of Steffan Nicholas, Jack Hirst, Dewi Davies, Rhys and Leigh Thomas.
Aron Ebsworth and Steff James called the shots and James slotted two penalties to reduce the deficit to a single score.
 
It seemed as if the Young Borderers were bound to score but a potent mix of mishandling in the conditions, plus the most defiant defence by their opponents, saw the Griffiths Cup presented to the Young Blues, whose players, coaches and supporters finally celebrated a nervy and seemingly endless closing stages for them.
It was absorbing stuff and entirely appropriate that skipper Layton and the rest of the Young Blues should ask Cole Barry to receive the trophy as a mark of respect for his courage in playing.
 
Haverfordwest:
Dan Rawlings: Geraint Powell; George Hart; Gavin Jenkins; Liam Jones: Dan Harding; Elgan Roberts: Cole Barry; Kyle Hamer; Aidan Hanner: Jake Evans; Dax Leggett: Ieuan Bevan; Morgan Layton (Capt); Kyle Williams. Replacements: Ieuan Williams; Ryan Palmer; Hywel Churchill; Dan Morgans; Mark Stobbs; Callum Ward; Ethan Chalker.
Coaches: Andrew Thicker; Peter Hughes; Jeff Clout; Peter Williams; Dai Braithwaite. Team Manager: Craig Jones.
Whitland:
Gino Setaro: Will Evans; Ryan Davies; Scott Lloyd; Jeavon Mumberson: Steffan James; Aron Ebsworth: Tom Walters; Richie Waters; Kieran Haycocks: Steffan Nicholas; Jack Hirst: Dewi Davies (Capt); Rhys Thomas; Leigh Thomas. Replacements: Antonio Setaro; Harry Dickins; Sion Benjamin; Will Turton; Aron Williams; Marcus Done.
Coaches: Mike Jones; Owain Davies; Matt Greenish. Team Manager: Rob Benjamin.