Vale Schools 22 – Cardiff Schools 5

SUNDAY (December 11) saw the Vale School's final Dewar Shield match before Christmas, the keenly anticipated derby game against the current holders of the trophy, Cardiff Schools.

The Vale took to the field resplendent in their new black kit sponsored by Apricot Online Learning.

Having beaten Cardiff in a pre-season tournament and winning their first two Dewar Shield games the Vale were quietly confident but totally respectful of the powerful Cardiff side.

After a tentative start by both sides the Vale outside half Jamie Howells opened the scoring with a beautiful try gliding through the Cardiff back line to score in the left hand corner, Howells failed to convert his own try, the ball bouncing off the crossbar.

Continued pressure from the Vale saw the forwards drive for the line with Benji Williams going over for what the crowd thought was a second try, however the referee had correctly adjudged that the ball had been knocked on and the try was disallowed.

Captain Evan Lloyd extended the Vale lead, powerful running from the lock forward saw him scythe through the Cardiff defence and score under the posts. With Jamie Howells converting the try, it was 12 – 0 to the Vale.

The Vale defence soaked up any Cardiff attack, both sides however performed well at the ruck, Lewys Williams and Iestyn Galton again impressed in both the set piece and the loose, Williams securing and turning over ball at the breakdown, to allow the half backs Will O’Connor and Jamie Howells time to provide clean ball to the centre pairing of Dan Stancombe and Tom Ap John.

It was Stancombe who scored the final points of the half, an unconverted try to take the score to 17 - 0

In the second half the Vale were playing a more expansive game, due to their forwards gaining the upper hand in the set pieces, Benji Williams stealing Cardiff line out ball on several occasions.

Despite being outweighed in the scrum the better technique of the Vale negated Cardiff’s advantage, the front row of Jack Forsyth, Morgan Veness and Will Tuckwell forcing Cardiff to replace and shuffle their opposite numbers.

As the half wore on the Vale drove back the Cardiff scrum a number of times, Evan Lloyd and Jarred Williams working in unison to drive the scrum forward.

Cardiff were continuing to defend resolutely when Iestyn Galton ploughed over the line but was deemed to have been held up.

The Vale were camped in the Cardiff half, attacking from all angles, through full back Ioan Cooper and wingers Matt Oddy and Griff Naylor, Oddy grounded the ball over the Cardiff line but again the try was disallowed, the touch judge calling a foot in touch.

Cardiff continued battling and a momentary lapse from a disorganised kick and chase by the Vale allowed Cardiff's replacement wing to wrong foot the defence and score an excellent individual try, 17 – 5.

Both sides made several replacements, Aled Rees coming on at scrum half, Tristan Thomas and Christian Brooke, replacing the props, Rhys Gentiles and Ed Thomas replacing the wingers and Ben Batten replacing Ioan Cooper at full back.

Late on in the half the Vale scored their final try of the match, after some darting runs from Aled Rees, Iestyn Galton sped through the Cardiff defence to score. The conversion was missed to give a final score of 22 – 5.

Many thanks as always to the parents and coaches, to sponsors Apricot Online Learning, to Canton RFC for hosting the game, and to Elaine O’Connor for the photographs.

Follow the team's Dewar Shield progress on Twitter @ValeSchoolsU15