CHAMPION SCHOOLS YEAR 7 NATIONAL FINAL
YSGOL GYFUN GYMRAEG GLANTAF (CARDIFF) 40 WADE DEACON (WIDNES) 6
By Ian Golden at Wembley Stadium
It was the biggest day in the history for Cardiff-based Welsh speaking school Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf and they didn’t disappoint as they dominated the Year 7 Rugby League Champion Schools Final, beating Widnes school Wade Deacon 40-6 at Wembley Stadium.
Just seven games into their Rugby League careers, the 12-year olds from the Welsh capital lit up Wembley Stadium and entertained all, bar Widnes based fans, with their skills throughout the 40 minute game.
This happened on what already was a memorable day for Cardiff and Wales at Wembley Stadium. On this, the 120th birthday of Rugby League, a statue featuring five Rugby League greats was unveiled outside the ground, with two of them being Cardiff-born Billy Boston and Gus Risman, who both made their name in the north playing the 13-man game.
The past was celebrated outside the ground and the potential future of the Welsh game was on display inside and Glantaf took the lead in the second minute after a very clever play fooled the Wade Deacon defence as Rhodri Thomas collects a high bomb, weaves through to score. Jac Lloyd converted well.
Wade Deacon were soon back in the game as a gap was opened up from Sam Craig and he ran in under the sticks. Marco Williamson converted to level things up.
But Glantaf were soon back in the lead and didn’t look back. Gwilym Evans set up Cai Marcus Jemmett to score in the corner to make it 10-6. Lloyd missed the kick.
The third try for Glantaf came on 17 minutes when Iwan Pyrs-Jones, ran from the half-way line beating every Wade Deacon player that challenged him, to score under the sticks. Lloyd converted to make the score 16-6.
Then Glantaf captain Gwylim Evans went over at the second attempt after initially being stopped short. Lloyd was unable to convert on this occasion. 20-6 at the break.
Straight into the second half and Glantaf extended their lead after Josh Atkinson went over in the corner. Lloyd converted to make it 26-6.
Glantaf continued to run riot as Wade Deacon had no answer to the skills of the Welsh lads who have still never lost a game of Rugby League in their lives.
A Sam Woods try in the corner extended the lead to 30-6 before Gwylim Evans followed him over for his second and Glantaf’s seventh. Both went unconverted.
A try from Fin Lovett with four minutes to go that Lloyd converted, completed matters and the very large support from Cardiff went wild.
GLANTAF: Rhodri Thomas, Iwan Pyrs-Jones, Gethin Marshall, Iwan Johnes, Sam Woods, Jac Lloyd, Gwilym Evans, Harry Griffiths, Josh Atkinson, Tirion Bowen, Fin Lovett, Ioan McDowall, Cai Marcus-Jemmett. Subs: Morgan Baos, Iwan Skuse, Osian Evans, Oli Meek.
Tries: Thomas (2), Marcus Jemmett (12), Jones (17), Evans (19, 33), Atkinson (21), Woods (28), Lovett (36)
Goals: Lloyd 4/8
WADE DEACON: Adam Bamber, Cailean Thompson, James Murray, Joel Petch, Jack Cross, Sam Craig, Marco Williamson, Jamie Holroyd, Alex Davies, Alex Sutton, Rees Sumner, Jack Hunter, William Gilhooley. Subs: Euan Holland, Ryan Adams, Zach Earnshaw, Oliver Hopkins.
Tries: Craig (6)
Goals: Williamson 1/1
Referee: Ryan Calder
Half-time: 20-6
GLANTAF’S RESULTS CHAMPION SCHOOLS 2015
St Joseph’s (Newport) 0 Glantaf 36
Croesyceiliog 0 Glantaf 40
Glantaf 50 Cwm Rhymni 6
RGS High Wycombe 18 Glantaf 42
Malet Lambert (Hull) 10 Glantaf 12
Semi-Final: Glantaf 20 St Bernard’s (Barrow & South Lakes) 12 (in Chorley)
Final: Glantaf 40 Wade Deacon (Widnes) 6
CYMRAEG
Gan Sian Golden
Fe wnaed hanes yn stadiwm Wembley ddydd Sadwrn wrth i flwyddyn 7 Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf ddod yr ysgol Gymraeg gyntaf erioed i ennill rownd derfynol rygbi xiii yn stadiwm Wembley.
Trechwyd Ysgol Gyfun Wade Deacon o Widnes 40-6 mewn gem a oedd yn llawn o sgiliau arbennig gan y bechgyn 11-12 mlwydd oed, sydd heb golli gem o rygbi xiii yn eu bywydau.
Sgoriodd Glantaf yn gyntaf wrth i Rhodri Thomas orffen symudiad arbennig i groesi’r linell gais. Roedd Jac Lloyd yn llwyddiannus gyda’r trosiad.
Daeth Wade Deacon yn ol wrth i’r capten Sam Craig groesi gyda chais a ddaeth yn sgor yn gyfartal. Troswyd gan Marco Williamson.
Croesodd Cai Marcus Jemmett yn y gornel gan roi Glantaf yn ol ar y blaen. Troswyd yn lwyddiannus gan Jac Lloyd.
Nid oedd yn hir cyn i Lantaf sgorio eto. Y tro hwn fe ddaeth Iwan Jones o’r linell 50m cyn taro nifer o amddiffynwyr Wade Deacon a sgorio o dan y pyst. Trosodd Lloyd eto.
Y capten Gwilym Evans oedd y nesaf. Aeth Glantaf ymhellach ar y blaen wrth iddo groesi ac fe aeth trosiad Lloyd y sgor i 20-6 ar hanner amser.
Eiliadau ar ol i’r ail hanner ddechrau roedd yr ysgol o Gaerdydd dros y linell eto yn dilyn cosb yn erbyn Wade Deacon. Aeth Josh Atkinson drosodd yn y gornel. Trosodd Lloyd i wneud y sgor 26-6.
Ar ol pasio penigamp o fewn chwaraewyr Glantaf, fe laniwyd y bel gan Sam Woods. Lloyd y tro hwn yn methu’r trosiad.
Daeth ail gais i’r capten Gwilym Evans wrth iddo roi y bel i lawr yn y gornel. Lloyd yn methu eto.
Daeth Fin Lovett a cheisiau Glantaf i ben wrth iddo ymladd i lanio’r bel dros y linell. Lloyd yn trosi.
Llongyfarchiadau mawr i’r ysgol am eu llwyddiant haeddiannol yn y gystadleuaeth hon ar ran Rygbi Cynghrair Cymru.