Haverfordwest High crowned Welsh Schools Under 18 champions
Welsh Schools Under 18 Cup Final:
Haverfordwest High School 50 - Ysgol Dyffryn Taf 12
Congratulations to the talented young rugby players of Haverfordwest High School, who can now claim to being the best under 18 school team in Wales after beating a committed and good-quality opposition from Ysgol Dyffryn Taf in an entertaining final at Llandovery RFC.
Haverfordwest had already beaten Dyffryn Taf in a league match and had further showed their potential in previous rounds against Cardiff High School, Bassaleg and Maes y Dderwen – but knew they would face redoubtable opposition here as players of the calibre of Charlie Reynolds, James Owen and Callum Goeman formed a redoubtable back row, and with pace aplenty through Ollie Hurst, Corey Delaney and Alex Passmore, who were all involved when they led 7-5 with three minutes to go of the first half -and centre Ellis Hennessey rounded off some quick hands orchestrated by Logan McDermott and Llion Davies; his try converted by full back Iori Phillips.
The only riposte up to that moment was an unconverted try by No 8 Kieran Harries but all that changed in that short space before the break when centre Max Fenn used his pace to good effect and then young second row Harvey Thomas showed what a prospect he is with a special score, and a first conversion by centre Daf Williams took Haverfordwest into a 17-7 interval lead.
Haverfordwest have a very powerful pack as Harries played alongside Caio Jones and Logun Young as outstanding ball winners, with Kai Robinson partnering Thomas in the second row – and with a major strike weapon coming from their front row as skipper Iori Curtis was joined by props Devin Williams and Kieran Sinclair.
And it was Curtis who set the seal on success in the first eight minutes of the second half as he ploughed through for two close-range tries – with Logun Young adding try no 6 as Dyffryn Taf showed they wouldn’t simply lie down as good handling saw replacement Sam Lynch cross the whitewash for a deserved team try.
But Haverfordwest were on the rampage by then as Max Fenn’s diagonal run saw him claim his second try and Daf Williams rounded off the scoring with a try under the posts from a cracking move, which also gave him his fourth conversion of the half that took his team to the half-century mark.
It was Haverfordwest High School’s first-ever appearance at this high level and is a tribute to their dedication and skill levels alongside dedicated coaches, whilst Ysgol Dyffryn Taf also deserve eery credit in bringing attention to the rest of this age group in Wales that on this occasion ‘West Was Certainly The Best!’
Haverfordwest High School: Liam Miller: Lukas Davies-O’Brien; Daf Williams; Max Fenn; Ollie Thompson: Liam Hughes; Connor Wesley: Devin Williams; Iori Curtis; Kieran Sinclair: Kai Robinson; Harvey Thomas: Caio Jones; Logun Young; Kieran Harries. Replacements: Finn Bruins; Josh Slater; Rhys Lucas; Noah Jenkins; Alfie Kehoe; Harri Evans; Manny Davies; Jack Robinson; Will Harries; Zac Walters; Niall Smith; Leo Power.
Head Coach: Mike Jones. Defence Coach: Mike Jones. Forwards’ Coach: Tom Powell. Backs’ Coach: Cameron Chancey.
Ysgol Dyffryn Taf: Iori Phillips: Corey Delaney; Ollie Hurst; Ellis Hennessey; Alex Passmore: Llion Davies; Logan McDermott: Dafydd James; Ollie Phillips; Leo Straz: Sol Roberts; Scott Blackhouse: Charlie Reynolds; James Owen; Callum Goeman. Replacements: Jack Monk, Kian Williams; Sam Lynch; Morgan Lewis; Iwan Thomas; Sam Morris; Will Monk; Shay Morgan; Gethin Llewelin; Ethan Hutchings.
Coach: Nico Setaro. Assistants: Gethin Greaves & Christian Rumbelow.
Pictures by Tim Hughes of Behind The Lens Photography
