Wales Students head coach Clive Griffiths was delighted with his side’s performance against a Valleys XIII on Friday night, selected from players from the JES Rugby League Conference.
The Students scored 40 unanswered points in the second half after a closely fought first period.
“It was a great exercise for us as we’ve trained really well,” Griffiths said. “Penygraig RFC were fantastic hosts and it was a big memory for me as I played my first ever game for Wales Schools in rugby union there back in 1971.
“We move on now to more training in the new year as we prepare for the Four Nations.”
Llew Hawkes, playing against a number of his Bridgend Blue Bulls teammates, scored 22 points, consisting of a try and nine goals.
In addition, Kian Lloyd scored four tries, Dylan Morgan and Lewis Ingram had two each, whilst Jacob Purcell scored one, the same as brothers Mason and Kavan Phillips, the latter being the only schoolboy in the side, being captained by his older brother.
The Valleys’ tries came from Scott Groves, Ethan Lewis and Isaac Williams, with Ethan Serra converting twice.
WALES STUDENTS
1. Nat Cotton (Swansea)
2. Lewis Ingram (Swansea)
3. Mason Phillips (UCLAN, capt)
4. Kian Lloyd (Loughborough)
5. Dylan Morgan (Cardiff and Vale College)
6. Llewellyn Hawkes (Cardiff Met)
7. Mason Apsee (Gloucestershire)
8. Jacob Purcell (Cardiff Met)
9. George Groves (Gloucestershire)
10. Alex Green (Cardiff Met)
11. Fin Northrop (MPCT)
12. Alex Thorpe (Swansea)
13. Alex Naylor Cardiff University)
14. Alexander Abel (Loughborough)
15. Tom Moore (Swansea)
16. Jarrad Hughes (Cardiff University)
17. Kavan Phillips (Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni)
18. Rhys Nicholls (Cardiff Met)
19. Scott Simons (Cardiff Met)
20. Logan Hannah (Cardiff University)
VALLEYS XIII
1. Zack Wilson (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
2. Isaac Williams (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
3. Lewis Harris (Rhondda Outlaws)
4. Donavan Rankin (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
5. Reuban Ghatt (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
6. Ben Jones (South Wales Jets)
7. Ethan Serra (Rhondda Outlaws)
8. Scott Groves (South Wales Saints)
9. Macauley Harris (Rhondda Outlaws)
10. Andrew Prouse (Rhondda Outlaws)
11. Iolo Bloom (South Wales Saints)
12. Dylan Smith (South Wales Saints)
13. Craig Lewis (South Wales Jets, capt)
14. Will Oates (Aber Valley Wolves)
15. Ben Rees (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
16. Brad Farrell (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
17. Brandon-Lee Pearce (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
18. Bryce Roberts (Rhondda Outlaws)
19. Harry Millington (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
20. Shane Williams (South Wales Saints)
21. Rhydian Wilcox (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
22. Ryley Reardon (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
23. Shayne Llewellyn (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
24. Rougue Donagh (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
Half-time: 16-26. Referee: Kristoff Young
