Cardiff Rugby fall just short of claiming the Regional Age-Grade Under 18s Championship as the Ospreys win 28-25 in a nailbiter at a drenched Cardiff Arms Park.
Tries from Gabe Williams, Ioan Penry, Tom Howe and penalty kicks from Lloyd Lucas proved to not be enough as on 64 minutes outside half, Logan Jones slotted the decisive three points which secured the visitors the victory.
The rain came down in torrents before kick-off to make conditions difficult for both sides, but that didn’t stop the Blue and Blacks from making a quick start. After a scrum outside half, Ben Coomer put in a brilliant 50-22 and from the resulting lineout, the Blue and Blacks won a penalty. However, after a kick into the corner, Gabe Williams successfully took the ball at the lineout, but after the catch and drive, the visitors regained possession.
Williams then opened the scoring up after 11 minutes, which came from brilliant passes from Ioan Leyshon and Lloyd Lucas.
Fullback Lucas could not add the extras as the hosts went into an early 5-0 lead. Moments later, the Blue and Blacks claimed their second. Inside centre, Ioan Penry, who has been playing a lot for Cardiff RFC in the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup, showed his strength as he crossed the whitewash. Lucas then added the extras which put his side into a 12-0 lead.
A response from the Ospreys soon followed, and after the Blue and Blacks were penalised outside half, Logan Jones kicked into the corner. Then Thomas Edwards brilliantly broke away from the catch and drive to score the visitors first.
The hosts then regained possession straight from the restart as, after a brilliant chase by winger Rhys Cummings, gathered and put the visitors under immediate pressure. Then after back-to-back penalties, Cardiff found themselves metres out, and after a driving maul Tom Howe crossed over for the Blue and Blacks third.
Then, on the stroke of halftime, the visitors reduced the deficit as openside, Edwards from another catch and drive crossed. Outside half, Jones added the extras but it was the hosts who went in at the break 19-10 up.
That momentum carried over into the second half as the visitors didn’t take long to claim their third of the afternoon. Winger Noah Mason showed his pace on the outside to crossover in the corner after the Ospreys’ backline showcased some brilliant handling.
Mason was then involved in the build up for his side’s fourth of the encounter after a brilliant break and kick in behind to get his side up into the Blue and Blacks 22. Then after a handful of phases on the hosts’ line replacement, Sam Gardner crossed over. This time around outside half, Jones added the extras which put the Ospreys into the lead for the first time.
That lead didn’t last long as the visitors were penalised around the breakdown area and, Lucas added the three points. His boot was instrumental again two minutes as he regained the lead for the Blue and Blacks after the visitors were penalised for being offside. Jones then slotted two penalties in the closing moments, which secured his side the Regional Age-Grade Under 18’s Championship.
Cardiff:
Tries: Gabe Williams, Ioan Penry, Tom Howe
Conversions: Lloyd Lucas (2)
Penalties: Lloyd Lucas (2)
Ospreys:
Tries: Thomas Edwards (2), Noah Mason, Sam Gardener
Conversions: Logan Jones (2)
Penalties: Logan Jones (1)
Cardiff Rugby Starting XV: 15. Lloyd Lucas, 14. Rhys Wyatt, 13. Ioan Leyshon, 12. Ioan Penry, 11. Rhys Cummings, 10. Ben Coomer, 9. Mason Daniels; 1. Dylan Barratt, 2. Tom Howe, 3. Jack Clease, 4. James Harding, 5. Gabe Williams, 6. Sonny McCabe, 7. Alfie Prygodzicz ©️, 8. Ioan Dacey
Replacements: 16. Taylor Coles, 17. Harvey Jones, 18. Sion Hill, 19. Lucca Alexander-White, 20. Brayon Kamanga, 21. Ben Bora, 22. Arthur Garfield, 23. Jake Pontecki
Ospreys Starting XV: 15. Cian Evans, 14. Harrison Burke, 13. Aled Davies, 12. Jack Hoskins, 11. Noah Mason, 10. Logan Jones, 9. Caelan Carson-Jones; 1. Logan Heaven-Hearne, 2. Logan Lloyd, 3. Jayden Maybank, 4. Freddie Millward, 5. Alfie Thomas, 6. Elis Cox, 7. Thomas Edwards, 8. Sam Morgan
Replacements: 16. Mckenzie Scales, 17. Josh Ireland, 18. Callum Boland, 19. Cody-Ray David, 20. Sam Gardner, 21. Louis Cooper, 22, Mackenzie Williams, 23. Evan Jones