Cardiff under-18 kicked off their Regional Age Grade Championship campaign with a hard-fought 17-7 victory over RGC in Colwyn Bay on Sunday.

The young Blue and Blacks side travelled up the A470 with a number of players missing due to injury, player welfare and school playing commitments, with national champions Cardiff and Vale College currently competing in the World Schools Festival in Thailand.

However, the capital city side did not disappoint to come away from north Wales with victory under their belts, despite losing wing Kodie Stone to injury at the eleventh hour.

Despite a first half score from Gavin Parry, with the hooker crossing from the base of a driving maul, it was the hosts who went into the break with a 7-5 lead.

But Cardiff took control of proceedings after the break, with replacement scrum half Sion Davies stretching his way over after evading three RGC defenders.

However, the best score of the day came following a powerful charge from Owen Conquer. The blindside used his strength to brush off a number of defenders before finding Matty Young on his inside. The full back had plenty to do, but used a combination of footwork and balance to find his way to the whitewash and dot down under the posts.

Cardiff will welcome Scarlets to the Arms Park on Monday, December 19, in their first home match of the campaign, with further fixtures set to take place in the new year.

Cardiff U18: Matty Young; Iestyn Griffiths, Gethin O’Callaghan, Ben Spittle, Dylan Scott; Lloyd Lucas, Josh Pearce; Max Bignell (capt.), Gavin Parry, Isaac Godfrey, Dylan McDonald, Harri Holden, Owen Conquer, Jacob Banfield, Evan Rees

Replacements: Jack Sweeney, Jayden Meads, James Steel, Joe Tucker, Tom Calcaterra, Sion Davies, Kyan Lewis, Tom Bowen

Cardiff Under-18 Men Fixtures*

Sunday, December 11 – RGC 7 v Cardiff 17 – Stadiwm CSM

Monday, December 19 – Cardiff v Scarlets – Cardiff Arms Park (KO 7.15pm)

Wednesday, January 11 – Dragons RFC v Cardiff – Ystrad Mynach

Wednesday, January 18 – Cardiff v Ospreys – Cardiff Arms Park (KO 7.15pm)

Sunday, January 29 – Cardiff v RGC – Cardiff Arms Park (KO 7.15pm)

Wednesday, February 1 – Scarlets v Cardiff

Wednesday, February 15 – Cardiff v Dragons – Cardiff Arms Park (KO 7.15pm)

Wednesday, February 22 – Ospreys v Cardiff

*Subject to late changes