TWO Christ College players – Tom Richards and Archie Trevethan – were in the Welsh Academicals side that beat Llandovery College on Tredegar Close last Wednesday writes Huw S Thomas.

The invitation side drawn from schools all over South and Mid Wales had to work hard for this narrow three tries to two win but both full back Richards and replacement flanker Trevethan showed up well.

Both teams made commendable light of a very heavy pitch and damp mist to entertain a good crowd which had a smattering of Welsh internationals such as Keith Hughes, British Lions in the form of Geoff Evans and former Accies stalwarts such as Newport’s Paul Evans in attendance.

Accies coach Adrian Evans was delighted at the win.

“Virtually all our boys were new to each other and it showed in the first quarter when we had to defend desperately in our own 22,” said Evans

“But we restricted the College to the one try and as the players got to know each other we began to have the edge up front.”

“And once we got to half time at 7-7, I was confident we could build on that.”

With No 8 Rhodri Bullock leading from the front and half backs James Topping and Jack Evans probing for holes, the Lilywhites took the lead when flanker Olly White finished off sustained pressure.

Evans converted but as the game went on the bigger Accies forwards with No 8 Harry McBryde (Maes Y Gwendraeth) – son of Welsh coach Robin - to the fore carried well.

Big Gwent College lock Anthony Cox powered over to give wing Ruari O’Flynn (Whitchurch HS) an easy conversion.

The Accies backs started to threaten under the direction of Maes Y Gwendraeth fly half Morgan Davies and when dangerous Christ College full back Richards was checked near the College posts, centre Emyr Hunam (Llangynwyd) was up for the try, converted by O’Flynn.

The third of the Gwendraeth players on show - wing Ellis Lewis - was denied by a fine cover tackle from replacement Olly Rayner but the Accies went further ahead when Brynteg hooker Tom Zielinski got a third converted try.

Christ College ‘s Archie Trevethan showed up well off the bench but the player who really caught the eye in the dying minutes was College left wing Toby Baldwin.

A number of powerful runs saw him skip through the cloying mud and a 50 metre gallop fashioned a second try for the ever supporting White, converted by replacement Rhys Phillips

The Lilywhites came agonisingly close to saving the game when the forwards pounded away at the Accies line and replacement wing Anson Lau all but weaved his way through the traffic in a grandstand but ultimately fruitless finish.

Llandovery College: Tries O White (2); Cons J Evans, R Phillips

Welsh Academicals: Tries A Cox, E Hunam, T Zielinski; Cons R O’Flynn (3)