Champion Schools Key Stage 3 Finals Day 2023

Four excellent games of rugby league were played at the Caerphilly Centre of Sporting Excellence on Friday as the Key Stage 3 age-group of the Welsh Champion Schools 2022-23 competition came to an end. Words: Ian Golden. Photos: Ian Lovell.

YSGOL GARTH OLWG 26 YSGOL GYFUN GYMRAEG GLANTAF 10

Ysgol Garth Olwg took the Year 7 boys title with a fine 26-10 win over Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf.

Lloyd Chalk gave them an early lead, scoring from kick-off for one of the fastest tries scored in a Welsh final. Olly Matthews converted.

Stanley Bodman got a try back for Glantaf, which Trystan Mlovff converted well from the touchline to level before a Leo Thomas try in the corner gave them a 10-6 lead.

But Garth Olwg went into the break with a 16-10 advantage. Tomos Graham soon charged over with Harri Jones converting before Chalk got his second with a fine run.

In the second half, an unconverted try from Jake Queally extended their lead to 20-10 before a Jacob Mizen try under the sticks converted by Cory John cemented the win.

YSGOL GYFUN GYMRAEG RHYDYWAUN 32 Y PANT SCHOOL 14

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Rhydywaun won the Year 8 boys title thanks to a dominant start against Y Pant School.

Ellis Cambourne ran under the sticks to give Rhydywaun the lead. Jack Field easily converted.

An unconverted Ellis Carpenter try increased their lead to 10-0 before Riley Davies extended it further. Field added the extras and it was 16-0.

An Oliver Cavanagh try in the corner for Pant to bring the score back to 16-4, but Field brushed off all defence to get Rhydywaun’s fourth of the half that he converted himself. 22-4 at half-time.

Y Pant, the only English speaking school to take part in the day, were first to score in the second half, a fine solo try from Regan Gibbons that he converted himself, but Field again showed his strength for his second of the game, scoring an unconverted try to take the score up to 26-10.

Ellis Driscoll’s try in the corner, converted by Field, cemented Rhydywaun’s victory. A late Mac Berridge try for Y Pant was mere consolation.

YSGOL GYFUN GYMRAEG PLASMAWR 32 YSGOL GYMRAEG YSTALYFERA BRO DUR 4

In the first ever girls match to take place on WRL Finals Day, Cardiff-based Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr swept aside Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur 32-4 in a match played where no conversions were attempted.

An excellent run from Beca Evans gave Plasmawr the lead. That was quickly followed by another long charge from Betsi Jones to double the score to 8-0.

Evans weaved her way through again to put the score onto 12-0 before two well taken tries from Mabli Joseph, put the half-time score onto 20-0.

It was soon 32-0 with second half tries from Jones, with her second, Eva Llyr Evans and Sophia Walters, but there were cheers when Tiana Callaghan went over for a late consolation for Ystalyfera.

YSGOL GYFUN GYMRAEG RHYDYWAUN 24 YSGOL GYFUN GYMRAEG GLANTAF 6

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Rhydywaun took their second trophy of the day as their rivals Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf missed out again.

Rhydywaun took a 12-0 lead due to an Isaac Jones brace, with the prop crashing in under the sticks each time. Evan Jones converted both.

Trystan Harmer scored in the corner for Rhydywaun’s third try which went unconverted and they had a 16-0 lead at the break.

Two unconverted tries from Jones extended Rhydywaun’s lead to 24-0 early in the second half.

Glantaf’s continued persistence finally won them a consolation as Tom Prickett grounded and converted.