Blues South U16 off to winning start
Blues South U16 were made to work hard for their victory but kicked off their season with a 22-19 win over the Dragons.
The Blues led 12-7 at half-time and 22-7 at one stage in the second half but were pegged back by a spirited performance from the Dragons.
Both teams were evenly matched and a fast paced game saw a number of players out on their feet in the second half. But it was the Blues who started fastest with their big pack to the fore.
After winning a kickable penalty inside the opposition half, the Blues decided to go to the corner and were rewarded when, after a number of phases, the ball found its way to prop Joel Ringer who crashed over. Luke Fish added the simple conversion to give the Blues a 7-0 lead after just three minutes.
Despite a slow start, the Dragons started to get to grips with the opposition pack with captain Bryce Morgan to the fore. Both teams were committed to playing an expansive game but with it being the first game of the season, they struggled to build continuity over a number of phases. As a result, the set piece dominated the game with both sides knocking on a number of times. If the two teams struggled to retain possession, it was the Blues who dominated territory and after half an hour they pulled further clear with a try from flanker Harry Dowell-Bennett. Fish missed the conversion but a 12-0 lead was a reward the Blues’ dominance of territory deserved.
With a comfortable lead, the Blues looked like they might pull further clear but a turnover saw their defence caught short and the Dragons capitalised. Winger Patric Lewis made the most of an overlap and showed an impressive turn of foot to run in from inside his own half. Fullback Arwel Robson added a difficult conversion to narrow the Blues’ lead to five points at half-time.
The second half saw both sides continue to struggle to retain possession though they showed a willingness to play an expansive game that should be applauded. Blues wing Josh Rodgers looked a constant threat with ball in hand and one break saw him nearly help to extend the his side’s lead but he was rightly judged to be in touch before giving a try scoring pass inside.
The high tempo nature of the game continued and when the Dragons were penalised inside their own half, Fish added a penalty to pull his side further clear. Winger James Walsh then collected a loose ball and scored to put the game out of sight for the Dragons. Fish added the conversion to give his side a 22-7 lead and what looked like a comfortable win.
To their credit though, the Dragons rallied superbly, playing some free-flowing rugby in the process. Replacement fullback Jarred Rosser looked extremely dangerous and surged clear to score in the corner after some impressive build up play. And from another length of the field move, fellow replacement Sior Pearce touched down underneath the posts. Robson added a conversion but it was not enough as the final whistle blew just seconds later.
The other U16 regional game saw the Scarlets register a comfortable 32-10 win over the Ospreys at Llandarcy.
The visitors registered a bonus point away victory with Scarlets centre Kieran Jones scoring 17 points with a try, two penalties and three conversions.
Prop Richard Bassett, centre Matthew Pearce and replacement scrum half Harry Randall added further tries as the Ospreys conceded 24 points in the second half.
The Ospreys outside half Dylan Francis kicked a penalty and converted Regan Grace’s try but his side will need to improve for their next game away to the Dragons.
