WRU NATIONAL FINALS
DOMINANT Penallta made it a hat-trick of titles in the WRU National Plate as they beat Treorchy 34-10 to match their wins of 2012 and 2017.
Treorchy were unbeaten coming into the game, but were no match in the end for the free-flowing Pitmen who had lost just once this season at Senghenydd back in September.
They will now go in search of a league and cup double when they host Newbridge in a topof-the-table One East clash with Newbridge on Saturday.
Penallta took charge from the start when Will Keep broke clear and ran in the first of four tries.
Joe Scrivens add the extras and went on to score 14 points as part of a majestic performance at fly-half.
“There has been a lot building for us throughout the season,” said Scrivens. “It makes all the hard work worth it in the end.
“Moments like these don’t come along very often and we are going to enjoy it.
“Then we will see what happens in the league against Newbridge next weekend.”
Treorchy worked hard from start to finish and tried to gain an advantage by using their strong pack to make headway. It didn’t help their cause that skipper Jordan Lloyd was offcolour with his goalkicking and he hit the post with his first penalty attempt.
Penallta scored again through skipper Rhys Stevens. A Scrivens conversion made it 14-0.
Treorchy ground their way back into the contest with a try from hard-working No. 8 Calum Handley. But on the stroke of half-time Penallta scored again when lock Rhys Spanswick finished off a wonderful move.
There was an early let-off in the second half for Treorchy when Geraint Capel had a try ruled out. But Scrivens kicked a penalty to stretch the lead.
A much-needed Treorchy try followed, as Callum Phillips crossed.
Another Scrivens penalty gave Penallta breathing space before right wing Ryan Davies put the cherry on the cake with a final try.
■■ IT was stalemate in the Pring family’s private battle to see who can score the most tries, but their Llanharan team definitely came out on top as cousins Jack and Ieuan Pring each scored twice to secure a 32-24 win over Bryncethin in the WRU National Bowl final.
Llanharan opened the scoring through the first of the Pring tries, from Jack, who broke through on the right wing and calmly settled the nerves in a tense derby. Ieuan then added Llanharan’s second try of the day, which this time was converted by Scott Jones.
Bryncethin didn’t sit back and in a thrilling final scored three tries of their own. Great work down the left wing by Sam Owens, and an outstanding cross-kick by fly-half Lloyd Bradley, allowed Shane Howells to gather for his 13th try this season. Bradley’s conversion cut the gap to just five points.
Ieuan Pring then grabbed his second try after a break by Rhys Dauncey and the conversion from Jones made it 19-7 to Llanharan at the break.
A penalty from Bradley cut the gap at the start of the second half before Howells scored his second try. Bradley’s conversion meant only two points separated the sides.
Llanharan replied with a Jones penalty and he then converted Jack Pring’s second try. With just 10 minutes to go Llanharan looked out of sight, but back came Bryncethin. Dafydd Evans dived over for a try that Bradley improved and there was just one score in it. But Llanharan goalkicker Jones nailed a long-range penalty with the last kick of the game to ensure there was no dream comeback.
■ CRAIG Mitchell turned back the clock to pick up the final try as Tonna romped to victory over Crumlin in the WRU National Shield final.
The former Ospreys and Exeter Chiefs prop played in front of a crowd of 73,300 on his last appearance for Wales at the Principality Stadium, but the strong Tonna contingent made themselves heard as they roared on the village side in their 52-19 triumph
Tonna scored seven tries in all, with Mitchell, now playing in the back row, bagging the last one to seal victory.
Tonna started the game well and Josh James gave them an early lead with a penalty. The outside-half went on to score 17 points as he converted all seven tries.