Development Officer Nigel Way reports on the latest match up between Heart of Wales Undr-13s and their opponents from Pontypridd.
This was a superb all round team performance by a team who are growing in confidence, to their credit Ponty put in a game performance and never gave up put in a huge amount of tackles but just caught a team on song on the day.
Continuity and handling in and out of contact was excellent this was helped by back row players Thomas Young, Ben Jones, Jaime Sherwood and Ieuan Archer who were constantly near the ball this allowed the backs to attack from depth and the handling was of the highest order.
Lewis Smout who has made a huge impact not only with his size but his ability to run fast for a big man was generally kept in check by the tenacious Ponty defence who never gave up, this week Smout only managed two tries but did have one disallowed!
Encouraging for Heart of Wales was the form of several players who have not always been in the limelight! Gareth John Davies put in a solid display in the second row in the first half and then helped the teams cause by going into the front row in the second half this was rewarded with a second half try.
The score was 19 0 at half time, the HOW coaches then showed their commitment to developing every individual in the squad by changing all the replacements and their superior strength and fitness told as they pulled away to finish the half stronger than their opponents!
Heart of Wales try scorers were: Cameron Gardner (Brecon), Lewis Smout (Brecon), Thomas Young (Aberdare), Jaime Sherwood (Aberdare), Gareth John Davies (Brecon), Ben Jones (Abercwmboi) Sam Jonathan (Aberdare), Owen Williams (Aberdare). Conversions scored by Luke Offa (Builth Wells) and Josh Lewis (Aberdare).
The next HOW u13s game is versus Rhondda at home in February.