PENARTH RFC U12s 7pts

ABERCWMBOI RFC U12s 5

AGAINST favourites Abercwmboi, who had beaten them convincingly earlier in the season, the Penarth Rugby Club U12s produced a fantastic performance to win the Redrow Homes Blues Cup final.

In Sunday's wind and rain, the game at Cardiff Arms Park, watched by many family members and friends, was a classic final, with early nerves on both sides.

Features of the game for both sides were hard forward action and tough tackling, with Penarth dominating the first 20 minutes and finding themselves in and out of the opposition 22. However, Abercwmboi responded well and, piling on the pressure, opened the scoring with a try. However, although they were playing with the strong wind at their backs, the conversion was missed and, ultimately, this was to prove very costly.

Taking in inspiring words from their coaches, Penarth came out all guns blazing for the second half and drove into the opposition 22 for a trademark driving try from captain Evan 'Lloydee' Lloyd. Drew Musa followed up with what would prove to be a vital kick.

The score was followed by a very sweaty 20 minutes of battling rugby from both sides, with the Penarth boys and parents jumping for joy when the ref blew the final whistle.

Penarth front rowers Rhys Newman, Morgan Verness, Owen Evans and Lewys Williams dominated the scrum, while Ethan Mills and Tariq Amari, in the second row, secured great line out ball. Back row players Evan Lloyd, Max Crandon, Dan Cahalane and Ryan Allen were dogged in rucks and mauls, while, behind the scrum, highlights included the sniping runs of scrum-half Aled Rees and the game-winning conversion of Musa. The centre pairing of Dan Hayes and Mason Grady and speedy wingers Cameron Sultana and Matt Wiltshire caused the opposition no end of trouble, while full-back Nick Hague-Jones produced some sublime tackles at vital stages. Indeed, the whole squad - others include Cameron Willan, Max Baker, James Steel, Evan Dyer, Finn Evans, Robert Couzens and Ben Stavrakis - played some part in the season's success by attending fixtures and providing the resilience such an up and coming side needs.

A club spokesman said: "The season could not have ended any better for a fantastic group of boys of which coaches Jason Allen, Nigel Boucher, Phil Musa and Warren Evans, the club and parents can be very proud."