In its sixth year the Blues Cup once again showed to be huge hit throughout the region and is a great advert for the community game as each of the six finalists across the three age groups produced rugby of an outstanding level resulting in 14 tries.
Hundreds of spectators saw the 2013/14 Redrow Homes Blues Cup brought to a spectacular finale on Sunday at the Arms Park. The finals were a culmination of well over 2000 players, 40 clubs going head to head since the start of the season in a competition that’s profile has gone from strength to strength since its beginning in 2008.
Encouragingly, each year new teams come through to the finals, this year it was the turn of Abercwmboi who made an appearance in the U12s final for the first time and CRICC who reached the U13s final.
Finals of this tournament are rarely dull, and the style of play in the opening game between Abercwmboi and Penarth in the U12's showed a great combination of commitment and skill with Penarth eventually coming out on top. Both teams were a fantastic advert for the game but it was Abercwmboi’s Lewys Jones that crossed the try line first. It wasn’t long after half time that Penarth took the lead with a converted try by Evan Lloyd.
Final Score: Abercwmboi U12 5 V Penarth U12 7
Points Scorers': Abercwmboi – Lewys Jones 1T
Penarth - Evan Lloyd 1T & 1C
Separating the finals was some fantastic U8s rugby, teams were given the opportunity to play before becoming flag bearers and cheering their clubs onto the pitch. Each team should be applauded for their contribution to the day, which was a fantastic advert for community rugby within the Blues region.
The second match of the day saw last year’s u12 winners, Pontypridd take on new comers CRICC. Both teams played passionately but it was Ponty that got on the scoreboard first when Jake Morgan crossed the line. Ioan Evans successfully kicked the conversion to cerement his teams’ lead. CRICC kept their composure to ensure Pontypridd didn’t run away with the lead ahead of half time. Both sides to their credit kept trying to play and it wasn’t long before last year’s winners had scored two more tries.
Final Score: CRICC U13 0 V Pontypridd U13 17
Points Scorers': Pontypridd – Dewi Thomas 1T, Harry Evans 1T, Jake Morgan 1T
Ioan Evans 1C
The last match of the Redrow Blues Cup was a hard fought battle between Cowbridge U14s and Ystrad Rhondda U14s. Cowbridge came out of the blocks quickly and were on the scoreboard with the opening minutes of the game. It wasn’t long before Cowbridge first scorer, Tom Williams got his second try of the game. However there was on 2 points in it at half time, after a brilliant couple of tries for Ystrad Rhondda.
Both teams kept the pressure going throughout the second half but it was a try in the dying minutes that saw Cowbridge crowned winners of the 2013/14 Redrow Homes Blues u14s Cup.
Final Score: Cowbridge U14 24 V Ystrad Rhondda U14 17
Points Scorers': Cowbridge– Tom Williams 2T, Bevan Howell 1T & 2C, Evan Williams 1T
Ystrad Rhondda- Carwyn Owen 2T, Cerith Lloyd 1T, Ethan Dunning 1C