Photos by permission of Llandovery College
The College warmed up for their clash with Christ College this Saturday with another confident display to turn over another famous invitation side in Crawshay’s Welsh writes Huw S Thomas.
The Lilywhites made it a notable double after having beaten the Welsh Academicals 17-12 the previous week in another close game on Tredegar Close
Trailing 17-7 at the break the College came through strongly in the final quarter of a free flowing encounter to pip a side that drew players from all over Wales and England.
Llandovery made light of the absence of some key Scarlets squad members to eke out a victory that will stand them in good stead for their visit to Christ College this Saturday (KO 12 45 pm).
The two famous rugby playing schools resumed battle last year after a hiatus of 11 years and this Saturday will see the 126th match since the first clash back in the age of Queen Victoria, in1879.
Crawshay’s who had drawn 33-33 with Christ College the previous week fielded players from Taunton School, Dean Close and Hartpury College and although the side gelled well enough, they had to give second best to the superior team work of the College under flanker Owain Scholey.
The invitation side had quality players in No 8 Iwan Dark (Hartpury College), centre Jack Cox (Taunton School), flanker Henry Heaven (Dean Close), wing Todd Chinn (Monmouth School) and Christ College Brecon lock Alfie Bateman and by half time it looked as Crawshay’s were in control.
In front of a bevy of former Welsh internationals and coaches in Terry Cobner, John Perkins, Andy Moore and Mike Ruddock, they edged the contact area where Risca product Dark was a powerful influence, moved the ball swiftly behind the scrum and often found chinks in the home defence
Tries from Christ College prop Ollie Milson, the non-stop Dark and Cox plus a conversion from Christ College fly half Rhys Pearson had trumped the lone Llandovery try from wing Tom Williams, converted by fly half Will Meek.
Whether through fitness or new found resolve, the Lilywhites looked far more dangerous in the second half with scrum half Morgan Edwards a constant threat and centres Dylan Rowe and Owen Francis proving a real bustling handful in mid field.
Lock George Moore – son of Wales lock Andy Moore – and his replacement Connor Moriarty – son of Wales skipper Richard Moriarty – were part of the comeback that saw the College home.
Prop Llyr James finished off good approach work by his pack to grab two close range tries and with replacement fly half Osian Jones in fine form with the boot, kicking the conversions and two penalties, the Lilywhites finished with a flourish.