Mini and junior rugby: Tournament success and high-scoring matches

May 1 2008 by David Williams, Merthyr Express

Under-eights

PENALLTA & Ystrad Mynach finished second in a three-team tournament with Glamorgan Wanderers and St Josephs.

In their first match they beat Glamorgan Wanderers 30-25 with two tries each from Kieran O’Leary, Liam Lintern and William Keep.

In their second game they lost 55-20 to St Josephs. Scorers were William Keep and Liam Lintern with two each again.

Bargoed came second in the Treharris tournament. They beat Llantwit Fardre 30-0 with tries by Luke Cusack, Niall Alexander, Iestyn Williams (2), Ben Jones and Lewis Evans.

They then beat Treharris 20-10. Tries were scored by Ben Jones, Iestyn Williams, Curtis Gingell and Luke Cusack.

They lost 20-15 to Merthyr with tries by Ben Jones, Iestyn Williams and Niall Alexander and then beat Ynysybwl 25-0. Curtis Gingell, Niall Alexander, Jack Bennett (2) and Lewis Evans scored tries. Player-of-the-tournament was Iestyn Williams.

Abergavenny 50
Dowlais 45

BEN Thomas and Ioan Pritchard scored hat-tricks as Dowlais came up just short.

There was excellent defensive work from Shane Chambers and Tyler Foster with Wil Thomas (2) and Callum Maybank scoring the other tries. There was also good passing by passing play from Rhys Gowen, Elis Broome and Josh Price.

Under-nines

Hirwaun 10
Dowlais 45

TRIES for Dowlais were scored by Elis Barry, Cory Edwards, Joseph Newman Jenkins, Jack Matthers (2), Aron O’Neill (4).

Ynysowen 15
Dowlais 20

ARON O’Neill (2), Jack Matthers and Joshua Davies scored tried for Dowlais as they won the Aberfan tournament.

Abergavenny 10
Dowlais 15

CAPTAIN Aron O'Neill led by example and scored two tries with Dylan Williams scoring the third for Dowlais. Man-of-the-match was Joshua Davies.

Dowlais 30
Rhymney 0

DOWLAIS were too strong for the Rhymney side and scored tries through captain Ellis Barry (2) and Jack Mathiers (2) with the rest coming from Aron O'Neill and Joshua Davies. Man-of-the-match was Daniel Karim.

Treharris won their Festival of Rugby tournament. They beat Llantwit Fardre 20-5, Merthyr 45-0, Ynysybwl 25-0 and Beddau 5-0.

Try scorers were Ben Jones (7), Keiran Williams (4), Ben Hood (3), Matthew Lewis (2), Jack Forrest, Tyler Lewis and Jack Rhodes. Player of the tournament was Teigan Morris.

Minehead 0
Treharris 40

TRY scorers were Ben Jones (2), Matthew Lewis (2), Benjamin Caffell, Jack Forrest, Tyler Lewis and Owen Williams. Man-of-the-match was Liam Morgan.

Under-10s

TREHARRIS held their annual Festival of Rugby at the Millennium Park with 24 teams from Merthyr, Llantwit Fardre, Bargoed, Ynysybwl, Beddau, Ystrad Rhondda, Pontypridd and St Albans all taking part.

Results: Merthyr 10 Ynysybwl 5, Treharris 10 Ystrad Rhondda 10, Ystrad Rhondda 5 Merthyr 15, Treharris 10 Ynysybwl 20.

In their final games Merthyr beat Treharris 20-15 and Ynysybwl had a 30-0 win against Ystrad Rhondda. Merthyr won the tournament, second Ynysybwl, third Treharris, fourth Ystrad Rhondda.

Ynysybwl 31
Treharris 26

TREHARRIS also played Ynysybwl, both teams pictured, in a memorial match to celebrate the lives of Haydn and Jeff Thomas (parent and grandparent of an Ynysybwl player) before Ynysybwl Firsts’ game against Pill Harriers.

Bwl kicked off and quickly put scores on the board and by the end of the first half were winning 17-5.

Treharris played their hearts out and by full time had managed to bring the score to 31-26.

Tries came from Adam Jones (2), Owain Morgan and Huw Thomas. A fantastic atmosphere for such a special occasion, Treharris were honoured to be asked to play.