CARDIFF UNIVERSITY 14 SWANSEA UNIVERSITY 46
Ian Golden at Cardiff University Sports Park, Llanrumney
Swansea University have won the Welsh Varsity for the second year in a row following a dominant second half at Cardiff University Sports Park at Wednesday lunchtime.
Wales’ oldest continuous rugby league side, founded in 1977, were never behind, but it was close until 55 minutes, which is when Swansea let rip, scoring five tries without reply to seal a dominant win.
The Warpigs had claimed Cardiff’s scalp in the inaugural match last year and looked like favourites from the off this time around, especially with their international experience, fielding seven Wales Student squad members compared to Cardiff’s two.
For many of the hundreds present, daubed in either Cardiff red or Swansea green, it may have been their first experience of live rugby league, as at the start, every tackle was cheered. When they realised how many tackles are made in our form of rugby, the cheering soon stopped for this, but they remained noisy and encouraging to both sides throughout the game, creating a great atmosphere.
Jack Hunter gave Swansea the lead in the sixth minute with a try in the corner. His Wales Students international team-mate Thomas Moore couldn’t land the conversion.
Lewis Ingram, another Wales international, and a product of the Welsh community junior system at Bridgend Blue Bulls, broke free to score in the same spot to double the lead on 12 minutes. This time Moore brilliantly landed the kick and the score was up to 10-0.
Cardiff’s Jared Hughes was given a yellow card for a high tackle but the home side got a try back when down to 12. Ireland international Pat Walsh dived over. Jack Leftley missed the kick.
Swansea were back over on the half hour. Ingram opened up a gap for Harvey Dryland who did well to score in the corner when under pressure. The try was unconverted but Swansea now had a 14-4 lead.
The same gap appeared on the Cardiff flank a few minutes later and this time Ingram went himself to score Swansea’s fourth try. Moore kicked from the touchline to make it 20-4.
But just before half-time Guy Chalstrey picked up a loose ball to score a second try back for Cardiff than Lefley converted to bring the score back to 20-10.
Four minutes into the second half and Cardiff scored again. Jared Hughes was under pressure but still managed to ground in the corner. Leftley’s kick swung wide.
By this time, the encounter had become a little heated, such was the intensity of the rivalry. Following the second brawl of the day, referee Craig Davies had to get out the yellow card again, with Cardiff’s Tom Fleming and Swansea’s Tristan Walters going to the bin.
And it was Swansea who scored soon after that and dominated the rest of the game. Alex Thorpe used his strength to take the ball, and a couple of Cardiff players, over the line. Moore converted.
Ben Pourrat added the next try, scored in the corner. Moore couldn’t convert but added the next try, under sticks making it easy for himself to put the score onto 36-14.
A touch of brilliance from Walters set up Swansea’s next try. When the ball looked like it was going over the dead-ball line, he acrobatically palmed it back to Moore who had an easy score and also added the goal.
Ingram ran over to complete his hat-trick with six minutes remaining to complete the scoring.
CARDIFF: Toby Andrews, Aidan Murphy, Owen Palmer, Jack Leftley, Jared Hughes, Lloyd Miller, Archie Stimpson, Tom Fleming, Guy Chalstrey, James McLaughlin, Olly Darlington, Greg Cook, Alex Naylor. Subs: Rhys Hill, Sam Chaloner, Patrick Walsh (c), Ben Jones. 18th (not used): Evan Bowden.
Tries: Walsh (24), Chalstrey (40), Hughes (44)
Goals: Leftley 1/3
SWANSEA: Lewis Ingram, Oliver Moody, Tristan Walters, Harvey Dryland, Jack Hunter, Nat Cotton, Thomas Moore, Rahul Viney, Charlie Penton, Dan Kernick, Alex Thorpe, Archie Willock, Eli Weekes (c). Subs: Ben Pourrat, James Sanderson, Nathan Stubbs, Myles Cullen. 18th (not used): Sion Smyth.
Tries: Hunter (6), Ingram (12, 34, 74), Dryland (30), Thorpe (55), Pourrat (59), Moore (64, 68)
Goals: Moore: 5/9
Referee: Craig Davies
Half-time: 10-20
