Evanses a cut above

Coca-Cola Welsh Cup Finals

Brynteg School U14  36 – 5  Ysgol Gyfun Ytsalyfera
Whitchurch High School U16  20 – Brynteg School  12

However ,the Bridgend School were denied a double as Cardiff school Whitchurch beat their U16 side 20-12 in the other Coca-Cola Welsh Schools final, held at Aberavon’s Talbot Athletic Ground yesterday (Wednesday).

Outside centre Rhys Evans was the star of the U14 show with four tries as he regularly cut through the committed Ystalyfera defence.

The Swansea Valley school were contesting their fourth final in five years, but had no answer to the pace and power of Brynteg who enjoyed their third final in a row.

Captain and No.8 Ben Evans also scored a try, hooker Rhys Pilliner spoiling the family monopoly by grabbing a sixth, while outside half Oliver Olds added three conversions. Ystalyfera got on the scoreboard through a try from scrum half Tomos Griffiths.

“Over the last three years they have won the Rosslyn Park Sevens, the world’s biggest schools tournament, the Urdd National Sevens at Stradey Park, the Powergen Great Britain rugby league at the Millennium Stadium and this is the icing on the cake – finally winning the U14 Coca-Cola Welsh Schools Championships,” said Coach Rob Sage.

“Brynteg is a school with a lot of tradition and we are very passionate about sport, especially rugby because we have a huge line of internationals from the school.”

Brynteg were cheered on by around 600 of their fellow pupils and the atmosphere made for an exciting second final as well, with Wales internationals Gethin Jenkins and Rhys Thomas on hand to give out the prizes.

It was a much closer fought affair, the scoreline was just 15-12 to Whitchurch with a minute to go when flanker Owain Thomas latched onto a loose line-out tap and sprinted 25 yards unopposed for the try which sealed the Cardiff school’s win.

Brynteg had taken an early lead in this game too, another outside centre called Rhys getting the opening score – this time Rhys Llewellyn. Fullback Luke Yardley also charged his way over, but Whitchurch kept their pattern.

With halfbacks Tom Rowlands and Josh Davies playing a territorial game, they came back into the game through tries by Rowlands and left wing Tom Lowe. The kicking of fullback Grant Fitzgerald gave them that slender advantage going into the final minutes.

Whitchurch were also adding the Coca-Cola title to Rosslyn Park success after becoming the first Welsh side to win the U16 title at the London sevens event.

“To go down so early, but cling on and come back into the game was fantastic. That last try sealed it, but until then it could have gone either way,” said Whitchurch Coach Tim Henson.

“My wife gave birth at the weekend and I was more nervous today than I was on Saturday! This win today has got to be up there with one of the best events, when you think of how many schools are in this then to get all the way to final and win it is tremendous.”