College lose after gallant final show

GALLANT Llandovery College were beaten 23-17 by Cardiff and Vale College in the final of the Welsh Colleges Cup at the Principality Stadium, writes Huw S Thomas.

The Lilywhites had lost to their opponents 32-19 earlier in the season, but this was a far closer contest and at one stage it looked as if they might claim the trophy for the first time.

Despite matching their opponents in tries, they failed to defend a 14-13 half-time lead.

“We just lacked that bit of composure to take us through,” said Llandovery coach Nathan Thomas.

A wet night did not dampen either side’s enthusiasm to run, but conditions made kicking important and it was the Cardiff outfit who were just the better.

Fly-half and man of the match Harrison James was the most influential player, scoring 15 points and being a livewire throughout, along with impressive scrum-half Finn Charles.

James rattled up 13 points in as many minutes with a try, conversion and two penalties, all of which threatened to make it a one-sided final.

Llandovery had other ideas. Fly-half Rhys Harris spread the ball wide from his own half, centre James Price slashed through the middle and his kick to the corner gave full-back Jack Davies the chance to dive over.

Harris kicked a fine conversion before the Lilywhites soon scored another try from deep.

All-action flanker Mackenzie Clayton intercepted a loose Cardiff pass and hared upfield before slipping a pass to the supporting Iwan Hughes, and the scrum-half crossed near enough to the posts to make the Harris conversion a formality.

Having conceded 14 points inside five minutes, the Cardiff side looked decidedly rattled at half-time and after the break Harris kicked a simple penalty for the Lilywhites.

Cardiff started to regain control up front and wing Cabe Lacey was foiled by a fine tackle from lock Henri Jones as the game went into the last quarter.

James was narrowly wide with a drop-goal attempt and then hit the post with a penalty.

But then a quick line-out throw caught the independent school’s defence napping and the Cardiff pack drove flanker Harvey Chamberlain over for a try that regained the lead.

James added an excellent conversion for a 20-17 lead.

Harris lost possession near his own line and this gave the Cardiff side the momentum to put in a period of pressure which led to Finn Charles putting the final nail into the Llandovery coffin with a 30-metre penalty.