Ian Golden reports from The Lextan Gnoll in Neath
Over 1,500 people were in Neath on Sunday to witness another entertaining WRL Grand Finals Day, headlined by a 21-18 win for Aberavon Fighting Irish over previously unbeaten South Wales Jets.
Aberavon lost the first two Welsh Finals in 2003 and 2004, as well as going down in 2022 and 2023, but finally they have their win in the 21st edition.
Jets nearly took the lead in the sixth minute. Cobi Green kicked a tricky grubber that Lewis Hughes tried to leap on to, but the officials deemed that there wasn’t enough downward pressure for the try to be awarded.
Aberavon were holding the Jets back in the early stages of the game but didn’t make any serious breaks into their opponents’ territory. However from their first real attack, they scored, Elli Evans outpacing everyone to ground in the corner, unable to convert his own try.
The Jets, behind for the first time this season, looked for a try back, but their own indiscipline wasn’t doing them any favours. After giving away their fourth penalty, Aberavon’s top try scorer Will Davies leapt on his own grubber for his 10th try of the season. Evans again couldn’t convert.
Jets again went on the attack and were formulating a good set, but Lewys Willacott’s pass to Hughes went straight into touch.
As Aberavon looked for a third try, again as a result of a penalty, 17-year old Henry Parker prevented a potential try with an interception five metres from the line.
Parker was then nearly a hero at the other end, diving over from dummy half but was stopped short. But from the next play, Ben Jones went over for Jets’ first try. Chris Harris’ kick hit the post.
That gave Jets a lift. Their next try was a beauty. Marcus Webb danced through a few Aberavon players, laid the ball high to Hughes who ran home like a mad dog for his 12th try of the season. Harris again couldn’t convert but with three minutes to go before the break, the scores were level.
Jack Davies was stopped short of the line as he looked to score first for Aberavon after the break. They did however force a goal-line drop-out and also had a man advantage when Hughes was penalised for a high tackle.
Aberavon took advantage within two minutes when Owen Evans dived over for their third try before James McCarthy added their fourth, sprinting through a gap to score under the sticks. Elli Evans converted both, which in the end was the difference between the sides.
As Jets got back to full quota of players, Aberavon knew they had to keep the score ticking along. Ryan Pugh kicked a field goal from the final tackle of a set to give his side a three-try cushion.
But the real gamechanger came with 17 minutes to go. After a couple of decisions that didn’t go Jets’ way, a frustrated Parker looked to have told referee James Jones what he thought and was sent off for dissent.
However, Jets didn’t give up. Harris thought he’d got them back in the game as he dived over following a good set, but Willacott’s pass to him was forward.
They weren’t to be denied. Ieuan Sims used his strength to power over for a try and Ben Jones converted.
Daniel Forrester was yellow carded for a high tackle with four minutes to go, evening the numbers for the remainder of the game and Jets did get another try back as Hughes scored in the corner, but it was Aberavon’s day.
Full stats: https://bit.ly/3X7NOkA
UNDER 16 FINAL (30 minutes each way)
Aber Valley Wolves 8 Swansea Rams 22
Swansea took the lead on 13 minutes after Harry Wrigglesworth intercepted to run 50 metres to the line. Kyson Rees converted.
Wolves hit back on 20 minutes when Josh Harding scored under the sticks but the conversion was sliced wide giving Swansea a 6-4 lead at the break.
Within a minute of the second half starting, Harri Arthur had extended Swansea’s lead with an unconverted try.
Again Wolves replied as Morgan Marozzelli finished off a fine passing move. The conversion attempt hit the post so Swansea kept their two-point advantage.
A Charlie Thomas try under the posts, converted by Rees increased their lead to 16-8 before Harvey Bisping scored in the final minute with Rees converting to cement the victory.
Full stats: https://bit.ly/3X7NOkA
UNDER 14 FINAL (25 minutes each way)
Cynon Valley Cavaliers 16 Aber Valley Wolves 10
In a very tight game, the Cavaliers clinched the win with two tries in the last ten minutes over the Wolves.
An unconverted Jack Field try gave the Cavaliers the lead on 10 minutes. Drew Foley dived over to level things five minutes later. The score was 4-4 at the break.
There was no further score until there was ten minutes left on the clock, Callan Parsons scoring a well-worked try. Alfie Archer converted before adding a further try and goal himself to seal the win
Aber Valley had the final say with a last second try from Alfie Davies under the sticks that Rhys Wood converted.
Full stats: https://bit.ly/4dJo4jW
UNDER 13 FINAL (25 minutes each way)
Cynon Valley Cavaliers 34 Torfaen Tigers 10
Cynon Valley Cavaliers produced a dynamic second half performance against Torfaen Tigers, taking the U13 title 34-10.
Ellis McGregor, junior rugby league’s top scorer this season, increased his tally in the 16th minute, scoring under the posts to give Cavaliers the lead. Riley Burgess converted.
Torfaen hit back straight away. Kley Williams scored in the corner. Morgan Jones couldn’t land the kick.
The score was 6-4 at half time but Cavaliers increased their lead very quickly after the break. Carter Stacey powered his way through to ground and Burgess kicked the goal.
Cavaliers then put the game to bed after two quick tries from McGregor, to put him on 18 tries for the season, with Burgess converting both.
Kian Davies added another try with Burgess kicking from touch to increase their lead to 30-4.
McGregor soon got his fourth, his 19th try of the season but Tigers had the last word when Benjamin Hopkins-Firth scored under the sticks and Morgan Jones converted.
Full stats: https://bit.ly/3yL6HAp
UNDER 12 FINAL (20 minutes each way)
South Wales Jets 24 Aber Valley Wolves 4
South Wales Jets won the U12s final easily seeing off the challenge of their local rivals Aber Valley Wolves, winning 24-4.
Gabriel Benson went in under the posts for Jets’ opener in the fourth minute. Daley Flower converted.
The lead was doubled on 13 minutes when Mason Lloyd broke free to score just left of the sticks. Flower again added the extras.
From kick-off it was 18-0. Harrison Law chased his own kick and leapt onto it to score. Flower converted.
Jets opened the second half well. Lloyd weaved through the Wolves defence unchallenged to score under the sticks making it easy for Flower to convert.
Wolves got over the line with seven minutes remaining, Olly Brackin leaping onto a grubber to score an unconverted try.
Full stats: https://bit.ly/3yQVu19
