Gwent U15 v Bristol U15
Gwent U15s extended their unbeaten season by defeating a heavyweight Bristol regional team in an entertaining encounter at Chepstow RFC last night.
Gwent have already beaten Pembrokeshire at home and away and defeated the North Wales Academy at Rhyl.
Gwent started the game in a very positive fashion, dominating the bigger Bristol pack at scrum and lineout. After early pressure the Gwent boys opted for a lineout rather than the kick at goal and their confidence was rewarded with a perfect driving lineout for Captain and loose head prop Jack Williams to touch down.
Gwent then put their foot to ground and Bristol could not live with the intensity and physicality of the young Welshmen. After more sustained pressure it was the impressive Williams who cantered over for his second try of the day after another excellent lineout drive.
Bristol then enjoyed their best period of the game, but the Gwent defence was solid until half time which ended 10-0.
The second half saw Gwent immediately on the offensive and they were unlucky not to score their third try with the final pass just not going to hand. They did however take three points when the referee brought them back in front of the posts for an easy penalty converted by new outside half Dan Haille.
The Gwent pack then turned the screw, outstanding flanker Leon Parke and second row Cameron Regan cleaning up at the line out and the dynamic front row of Williams, Jake Smith and Dan Maguire, brother of Wales U18 star Stuart destroying the Bristol scrum. This enabled half backs Steve Brown and Dan Haille to control the game and play the Chepstow slope like seasoned professionals.
It was Man of the Match Brown who collected the next score. Strong running by centres Josh Pearce and Elliott Wheaton saw Gwent move to within inches of the Bristol line. A quick tap penalty saw the live wire Brown dart over for an excellent try converted from the touch line by Haille.
Gwent then made some changes which saw them lose a little momentum and Bristol ran in a consolation try through their left wing, which was well converted.
Gwent rallied again and were soon back in the ascendency. After another booming touch finder by Haille, from another scrum against the head, replacement scrum half Mathew Davies darted blind for wing Alex Lovell to crash over for the last try of the game, again superbly converted by Haille from the touchline.
An excellent 27-7 win and an excellent performance from all 22 Young Men of Gwent
GWENT TEAM 1. Jack Williams(C)-NHSOB / 2. Jake Smith- Talywain / 3. Dan Maguire – NHSOB / 4. Josh van Male – Valley Rhinos / 5. Cameron Regan RTB Ebbw Vale / 6. Chris Dickenson – RTB Ebbw Vale / 7. Leon Parke – St Josephs / 8. Rob Smith – Garndiffaith
9. Steve Brown – RTB Ebbw Vale / 10 Dan Haille – Valley Rhinos / 11. Alex Lovell – NHSOB / 12. Elliott Wheaton – NHSOB / 13. Josh Pearce – RTB Ebbw Vale / 14. Tom Ashmead – Valley Rhinos. / 15. Spencer Crawley – RTB Ebbw Vale / 16. Carl Burgess – St Josephs / 17. Mikey Blake – Cwmbran 18. Tom Mathews RTB Ebbw Vale / 19. Richard Summers – St Josephs / 20. Mathew Davies –Garndiffaith / 21. Jonny O’Neil NHSOB 22. Dan O’Brien – St Josephs
