ABER VALLEY WOLVES U13s 52 – 20 TORFAEN TIGERS U13s
Saturday August 13, Caerphilly
The first 20 minutes of the 2016 Welsh Under-13 Grand Final was an enthralling contest, but Aber Valley Wolves eventually let rip to beat Torfaen Tigers 52-20 at Virginia Park, Caerphilly.
Seb Hackett set up Oliver Andrews for the Wolves’ first try and from kick-off William Oates ran over 50 metres for a quick second. Both went uncoverted, but Wolves were 8-0 up.
Torfaen struck back, after a well-worked move saw Dylan Tolley make a clean break and ground under the sticks, with TJ Wheeler converting the extras.
An outstanding sprint on the quarter-hour mark from Jay Chatham saw Tigers take a 12-8 lead after Wheeler once again hit his conversion.
Both sides were landing quick-fire blows, and Wolves struck back again. Owen Isaac went over from close range, and Ceiran Cantello converted to put them back into a 14-12 lead, before Andrews notched his second of the afternoon to add another four points.
The Senghenydd side were on fire. Kyle Hewish dived over for their fifth try, before William Oates broke through the centre for a rapid sixth, with Cantello converting both to make it 30-12.
Ollie Andrews completed a breathtaking first half by converting his own try to ensure Wolves went into the break with an impressive lead.
Wolves picked up where they left off, and were quick off the mark in the second half. Ewan Challenger forced his way over, before Andrews sprinted under the posts for his fourth of the match.
Owen Isaac broke from 50 metres to take his tally to two, and bring his side’s score to 50. Cantello landed the conversion.
Despite the large gulf, Tigers didn’t give up.
Chatham grabbed two late consolation scores for Tigers, sprinting over half the length of the pitch, before diving over for his hat-trick shortly after.
The damage was already done, and Aber Valley Wolves Under-13s lifted the Welsh Grand Final trophy in what was to be a hat-trick of disappointing losses for Torfaen on Finals Day.
South Wales Rabbitohs trounced Tigers 86-12 in the Under-15 Grand Final, before Cardiff City RL clinched a dramatic late win against the same opposition in the Under-17 Grand Final.
• Match report by Ian Golden.