Youth rugby: Now for treble

May 1 2008 by David Williams, Merthyr Express

Merthyr Blues 32
Rhydyfelin 10

MERTHYR have completed the second leg of a possible treble.

They added the WRU Youth League Blues Region title to the Webb Ellis Cup with what turned out to be a comfortable win.

The victory at Rhydyfelin not only wins them the league, but also puts them through to the play-off stages that pit the Blues region winners against those from the Ospreys, Scarlets, Dragons and North Wales – with a fourth honour of the season available.

In that, they face Dragons region champions Bedwas, in Bedwas, on May 10 after next week’s Heart of Wales Mid District Cup final against Aberdare at Abercynon (kick-off 1.30pm).

Against Rhydyfelin, they led just 10-3 at half-time and were up against a hard, physical home team.

A try by winger James Wood and conversion and penalty by Lloyd Hynes gave them the edge at the interval, and Merthyr moved their game up a couple of gears in the second half with pace and quick ball for the backs.

The team put in an excellent performance, with further tries from Bleddyn Rees, Tom Griffin and another from Wood.

All conversions and penalties were taken by Hynes.

This result gave Merthyr Youth the league title – the first time the club has won the Blues Region League.

Merthyr coach Craig Dummett is very proud of his side’s season.

He said: “Rhydyfelin were one of the most improved teams in the division and had beaten the teams in second and third places before we played them.

“Winning this and the Webb Ellis Cup has got our players on a roll and we are now looking to win the Heart of Wales Cup on Saturday. After that there is the Jonathan Davies Sevens, where we are the holders.

“The players are still focused and didn’t really celebrate on the weekend because they know there are still big matches to come.

“They are in good shape so we are trying to keep their feet on the ground.

“The best thing is that nearly all the boys will be back next season, so there could be more successes to come.”