Celebration night for Athletic Youth players
RUGBY
BRIDGEND Athletic Youth held their Annual Presentation Evening at their clubhouse.
Head coach Lee Grabham started the proceedings by emphasising the achievement of the A side in not only winning the Ospreys A league, but following it up by defeating the unbeaten Dragons league champions Senghenydd 41-18 and Blues league and Welsh Youth Cup winners Rumney 37-30 to be crowned the best youth side in Wales as National League play off champions. Any side that can score 7 and 5 tries against such formidable opposition truly deserves that title.
The second-string Rags side – mainly last season’s Under 16’s side also performed exceptionally well in claiming several formidable scalps in reaching the Welsh Bowl Cup final. Altogether 45 players represented the two youth teams during the season.
With such great team achievements, virtually any of the players could be considered worthy of Awards – so it was very difficult singling out the eventual recipients.
He congratulated half backs Luke Bevan and Dan James and hooker Cameron Thomas on being capped for the Boys Clubs of Wales as well as several players representing the Ospreys and Glamorgan District youth sides.
The Captains awards went to A side Tom Seldon and Rags Joe Grabham.
The A Side Player of the Year was won by Jonathan Taylor, while the Player’s Player of the Year went to Ben Davies, with Cameron Thomas runner up.
The Rags Player of the Year was awarded to Joe Grabham, Players Player of the Year Caine Woolerton and runner up Cameron Lewis.
The most promising Youth Player award went to lock Tom Davies who started his first season in Youth rugby with the Rags, but soon became a regular A Team player.
The Champagne Moment of the Year was awarded to popular wing Eugene Richards for his try against Senghenydd.
The Daryl Dyke Memorial Award was presented to A side captain Tom Seldon for his inspirational leadership both on and off the field. Tom thanked his fellow players and the great coaching and management team of Lee Grabham, John Doherty, Kevin Gamble and Keith Hobby for making his period in youth rugby at the
Last season Goytre finished third in Division One behind champions Barry Town United and Penybont.
And early indications suggest the Plough Road side, who harbour hopes of following Barry into the Welsh Premiership, will again go close to winning Welsh League honours.
But Goytre, like Penybont, still have work to perform on ground facilities before they can apply for a full FAW Domestic Licence. Ath so memorable.
The A team and Rags Clubmen of the Year Awards went to father and son Keith and Matthew Hobby for their contributions behind the scenes in going that extra mile to help the rugby and commercial operation of the VALLEY Cougars remain top of the Premier League after a dominating win over Bridgend Blue Bulls at Pyle RFC.
The visitors were soon 10-0 up after tries from Dean “Maggot” Higgs and Ethan Coombes, Mike Hurley converting the first.
Bridgend hit back Youth sides.
Lee Grabham then summed up the evening by thanking his fellow team of John, Kevin and Keith. Tokens of appreciation also went to physios Steve Bassett, Rod Davies and Dr Richard Zielinski and match day helpers Martin through Jack Dryden’s first try of the day that Gareth Howells converted to bring the score back to 10-6, but the Cougars then built up a 30-point lead.
Dan Davies was next over, followed by Liam Davies, Anthony Noonan, Dafydd Hellard and another from Davies, with Hurley’s three goals bringing the score up to 36-6.
Ray Evans went over in the corner for Bridgend to bring the score back Willis and Adam Durlucia. Photographer John Cannon, who presented each of the players with an illustrated team photo, which will also hang in the clubhouse, was also thanked for publicising the season in great pictures on the club website.
Lee finalised the evening by wishing the players who are progressing to senior rugby – nine have already tasted 1st team rugby - all the best with their future careers, while emphasising the Ath have always encouraged those with exceptional talents to progress.
Lee himself was once in that category, but soon realised his real enjoyment and greatest satisfaction and memories were derived from returning to play with his mates in an Ath side that won successive promotions from Div 4 to Div 1 of the old leagues. to 36-10 before Cougars addressed the balance through Rhys Davies that Hurley converted.
The next Cougars’ try, from Ryan Davies, converted by Hurley then brought the score up to 48-10.
Ryan Davies was sinbinned not long after scoring and Bridgend took advantage of the extra man as Dryden went over for two further tries to complete his hat-trick, Howell converting the first of them.