Llandovery College 0 Crawshay’s Welsh U18 34.

FOUR local boys helped invitation side Crawshay’s Welsh inflict this heavy defeat on Llandovery College last Wednesday writes Huw S Thomas.

Coleg Powys and Builth RFC lock Liam Forkings and three Christ College boys in wing Jake Roberts, No 8 Sam Maggs and scrum half Osian Morgan made notable contributions in an outstanding Crawshay’s performance.

True to their tradition of open rugby, the famous invitation club ran in six sparkling tries without reply against their independent schools opponents.

Making light of the heavy underfoot conditions, they ran and passed from first to last to entertain a good Tredegar Close crowd.

The College had beaten Mount St Mary’s from Sheffield 29-5 four days before but were always on the back foot against the visitors.

Leading the way for Crawshay’s was Bro Dinefwr skipper and right wing Harry Lloyd who grabbed a brace of second half tries with some deadly finishing.

Quick and nimble, Lloyd skimmed over the awful surface as his side stretched their 7-0 half time lead to 34-0 with a combination of slick handling and excellent support to eventually run the Lilywhites off their feet.

In the first half the College had restricted the visitors to the one try, scored by fly half and Man of the Match Jake Jenkins (Bro Gwaun, Fishguard) and converted by centre Will Holley (St John Baptist CS, Merthyr).

If Jenkins provided the neat touches, it was Holley who was the main cutting edge behind the scrum and who was invariably involved in most that went on in attack.

Up front Bro Dinefwr prop Iwan Madoc Jones, Christ College No 8 Sam Maggs, Coleg Powys flanker Liam Forkings, Abersychan CS back row Taine Basham and Framlingham College lock Ben Parry all caught the eye.

Behind the scrum the Christ College pair of scrum half Osian Morgan and wing Luke Roberts and Bro Morgannwg centre Rhys Evans – son of former Wales fly half David Evans - made valuable contributions alongside Jenkins and Holley.

Five second half tries by Lloyd (2) Holley, Basham and Coleg Sir Gar replacement back Ifan Rees Phillips plus a Holley conversion did for the College for whom lock Cai Devine and No 8 Ianto Jones never stopped trying in the pack.

Despite few chances full back Tomi Lewis made an impression and was denied a first half try by knocking on his chip ahead in the Crawshay’s in goal area.