Youngsters showing they can

GIVING youth a chance is also paying dividends for Rumney.

The Riverside Park club are gearing up for their WRU National Plate second round trip to Tenby United on the back of a pretty decent start to the season in One East Central.

They topped the table heading into the weekend while the 31-25 defeat they suffered with only 14 men at home against Treorchy on Saturday was their first reverse since the opening day of the season.

It was after that narrow 7-3 home defeat by Rhiwbina back on September 1 that Rumney decided the time was right to bring in six of the club’s highly-successful youth side – who have reached the final of the WRU National Youth Cup in each of the past two years and lifted it in 2017.

Flanker and youth captain Lewis Hill, scrum-half Morgan Williams, flyhalf Reagan Mahoney, another backrow forward Owen Jones, winger Joe Morgan and lock Tom Rogers have all been given their chance with the senior side.

And they have certainly impressed, reeling off four straight wins at St Joseph’s (26-10), at home against Dinas Powys (28-17) and Bridgend Athletic (22-13) respectively and then at Glamorgan Wanderers (28-17).

Rumney also beat Abercynon 33-26 at home in the first round of the Plate.

“We’ve had a strong youth section for a few years now,” said Rumney team manager Andrew Wilcox.

“We just felt after the first game against Rhiwbina it was time to put a bit of trust in them and we’ve had a good run since then.

“The six players who have come up have stood their ground, made a dif-