Coach Adam Thomas paid tribute to the progress and growth of the Dragons Women Under-18s this season as they wrapped up the Regional Age Grade Championship with two big wins.
After starting the season with a 20-0 defeat to eventual champions Cardiff and 5-5 draw with RGC, the squad has stormed to back-to-back victories in recent weeks.
Scarlets were beaten 39-7 before Ospreys were defeated 44-14 at the weekend with centre and co-captain Savannah Picton-Powell leading the way with a treble while Isla McMullen (2), Molly Wakely, Molly-Mae Powell and Tia Jones also scored.
“We set ourselves a bit of challenge a few weeks ago for the last two games, to win them both. To score 80 points over two games is massive for us,” said Thomas.
“We struggled in attack for the first two games, only scoring one try, so to see the turnaround has been really pleasing as a coach.
“The first half our attack against Ospreys was a bit flat, we kept getting turned over, but we had a chat and got it better.
“We can’t question the intensity and the effort; we have just tried to squeeze out as much as we can in terms of attack.
“We’ve worked hard with them, and the last two results show it has paid dividends. The squad have been outstanding.”
Thomas believes the future is now bright for the squad with several young players gaining early exposure.
“Through the spine of the team there are girls who have played a year young,” he said.
“In terms of the future for Dragons Women Under-18s, it is massive with the exposure they have had over the last four games.
“We are all looking forward to working with them going forward. We’ve never questioned their effort or intensity within training or games.
“They have grown, they have progressed, and that is all you can ask for as a coaching group and those two wins were our target and we achieved it.”
Round 1 (Cardiff Arms Park) - Sunday, 8 January
Cardiff 20 Dragons 0
Round 2 (Ystrad Mynach) - Sunday, 15 January
RGC 5 Dragons 5
Round 3 (Parc Eirias) - Sunday, 29 January
Scarlets 7 Dragons 39
Round 5 (Ystrad Mynach) - Sunday, 19 February
Dragons 44 Ospreys 14
We set ourselves a bit of challenge a few weeks ago for the last two games, to win them both... To score 80 points over two games is massive for us...
