Dragons Under-18s suffered defeat in their opening match of the Under-18s Regional Age-Grade (RAG) Championship at home to Cardiff, losing 38-53.
In a free flowing first half there were eight tries shared equally between the two sides with Dragons’ scores coming through Morris’ brace, along with a try each for wings Dylan Cole and Rhys Dyer.
However, following each Men of Gwent score, Cardiff answered back with tries of their own, before taking the lead at half-time with a penalty.
Cole scored two in the second half to make it a hattrick but Cardiff’s driving maul proved a big weapon with the visitors scoring three second half tries and a penalt to run out victors.
Morris’ intercept opened the scoring inside a minute before Cardiff fought back through their driving maul.
A second Dragons try came after George Bradbury hacked on following a mistake from Cardiff for Morris to score.
Cardiff responded with a try of their own again, before Isaac Williams’ pinpoint kick found Cole in the corner to dot down.
Another Cardiff response, this time through wing Devon Morris for one of his two first half scores before Dragons turned the ball over in the opposition half and Dyer ran in unopposed.
Morris’ second for Cardiff and a penalty gave the capital side the lead at half-time, 26-29.
A lovely chip and chase from Cole opened the scoring for Dragons U18s at the start of the second half but Cardiff responded immediately once again to retake the lead.
A driving maul try extended Cardiff’s lead to 10 points almost halfway through the second half.
Another Cardiff try extended the lead before Cole’s hattrick score late on as a consolation.
Dragons U18s: Ellis Anderson (Penallta); Rhys Dyer (Caerleon), Olly Morris (Newbridge), George Bradbury (Whitehead), Dylan Cole (Caerphilly); Elliot Young (Whitehead), Isaac Williams (Whitehead); Logan Leonard (Pontypool Utd), Morgan Suller (Whitehead), Gabe Pugh (Bargoed), Olly Beynon (Haberdashers’ Monmouth), Gethin Clarke (NHSOB), Gethin Tudball (Bedwas) Capt., Jake Leighton (Newbridge), Troy Raymond (Caerleon).
Replacements: Jayden Coxe (Penallta), Iwan Williams (Machen), Yi Sheng Chi (Risca), Rafe Llewelyn (Monmouth), Zac Little (Whitehead), Johsua Johnson (Risca), Liam Lawlor (Bedwas), Jack Williams (Abergavenny).
