CARDIFF UNIVERSITY 38
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY 10
Ian Golden, Cardiff University Sports Park, Wednesday
The third annual Welsh Varsity match between Cardiff and Swansea went the way of the home side for the first time ever, as they won 38-10 in an entertaining encounter.
Swansea had won the previous two Varsity matches, but it was Cardiff who came in to the match as favourites, due to their higher league position and experience.
Nine of the Cardiff players also played in last season’s encounter, with just four from Swansea remaining, although vice-captain Kit Heales did turn out in 2024.
The visitors, with six of their players out through injury, gave a debut to Chachchayathorn Jampadang from Thailand, known to his friends as “Mai”.
The match was part of a day-long series of events with many sports featured all around the city, American Football was taking place just opposite us, culminating in the men’s rugby union in the evening at Cardiff Arms Park.
A large crowd, some of whom watching their first ever rugby match, were thoroughly entertaining game, played in a strong wind, which definitely affected the accuracy of the kicking. Just two conversions were scored in the match, one for each side, with Cardiff only landing a kick in the final minute.
Cardiff were denied a first try on 10 minutes when Rhys Hill, the only player to have turned out in all of his side’s matches in the last three years, was held up over the line
But on the last tackle of the next set, Cardiff did well to keep the ball alive and Samuel Stevenson dived over in the corner. Jack Leftley couldn’t land the conversion.
The score was doubled on 21 minutes. Jared Hughes, who scored in last year’s match, bundled over in the corner for a try that again went unconverted.
But Swansea hit back as soon as they regained possession. Nat Cotton received the ball on 30 metres and stormed through to also score a try in this encounter for the second season in a row. Thomas Moore’s kick swung wide.
Cardiff quickly extended their lead as soon as they regained the ball. Logan Hannah dived over under pressure for a try that again was unconverted to leave the score on 12-4 at the break.
They soon made it 16-4. Patrick Walsh stormed over from short range, just three minutes after the interval for an unconverted try.
From kick-off, the halves combined brilliantly, as Leftley lobbed the ball for Hughes to catch and run over uncontested for his second try of the match.
Leftley again couldn’t covert, but he set up the next try, slipping the ball to Paddy Brown to run down the wing and score Cardiff’s sixth try. Hughes, taking over the kicking duties, was also unlucky with the boot.
Swansea struck back on 55 minutes. Noah Phillips caught a high bomb to ground in the corner and Moore landed the first successful conversion of the match.
But from kick-off, an error gave Cardiff possession back and they didn’t waste it. Josh Kerrigan scored in the corner with Hughes again unable to convert.
Stevenson put the seal on Cardiff’s win with four minutes remaining with a good run down the wing. Hughes conversion attempt looked on target, but at the last second swung wide.
Finally, Christian Bennett scored under the sticks, and Hughes definitely couldn’t miss this kick to put the final score on 38-10.
CARDIFF
1. Jacob Foster
2. Paddy Brown
3. Tristan Jago
4. Josh Kerrigan
5. Samuel Stevenson
6. Jack Leftley
7. Jared Hughes
8. Tom Fleming (c)
9. Rhys Hill
10. Kieran Williams
11. Patrick Walsh
12. Olly Darlington
13. Alex Naylor
Subs (all used)
14. Christian Bennett
15. Sid Rai
16. Logan Hannah
17. Barney Kivlin
18. Ben Jones
Tries: Stevenson (12, 76), Hughes (21, 46), Hannah (27), Walsh (43), Brown (50), Kerrigan (58), Bennett (79)
Goals: Jack Leftley 0/5, Jared Hughes 1/4
Goals: Jack Leftley 0/5, Jared Hughes 1/4
SWANSEA
1. Noah Phillips
2. Joe Smith
3. Dan Kernick
4. Matt Ryan
5. Jack Bludstone
6. Nat Cotton
7. Tom Moore (C)
8. Dale Viant
9. Kit Heales
10. Henry Sercombe
11. Archie Richards
12. Will Goldstone
13. Alex Thorpe
Subs (all used):
14. Joe Hellery
15. Ioan Evans
16. Harry Davidge
17. Ieuan Davies
18. Chachchayathorn “Mai” Jampadang
Tries: Cotton (23), Phillips (55)
Goals: Moore 1/2
Goals: Moore 1/2
Referee: Craig Davies
