Cardiff and Vale district under 16s hosted Pontypridd under 16s last Wednesday at Llandaff RFC and finished off their season with their 4th consecutive win.
In the first half, both sides played excellent rugby but it was Pontypridd who were rewarded with points on the board for their efforts. Their larger pack allowed them to establish a platform upon which their fast and physical backs were causing the Cardiff and Vale defense all sorts of problems. As a result, the half-time score stood at 7 0 in favour of the vistors.
The half-time break gave Cardiff and Vale time to gather themselves as they came out in the second a different team. The pack dug deep to provide their backs with plenty of clean ball that allowed them to play the same expansive rugby that had characterised their previous three victories. It paid dividends when wingers Dan Davies and Chris James both crossed for tries that were the end product of well worked moves between forwards and backs. The final score; Cardiff and Vale District Under 16s 15 Pontypridd 7.
This age-group is the pinnacle of Junior Association District Rugby in Cardiff & the Vale, which in partnership with the local WRU / Regional staff runs representative rugby from U12 - U16.
These groups are selected via a comprehensive tracking and player identification system through nominated players attending summer / holiday development days, a trial procedure and even, for some, a District Centre of Development which underpins these squads and provides ongoing rugby opportunities through a weekly winter coaching programme.