Ammanford’s Sam Potter had an outstanding day for Llandovery at the Aberaeron Sevens on Sunday, scoring an impressive 59 points in five games but losing in the final to the defending champions Preseli Babas 26-5 writes Huw S Thomas.
In a repeat of the 2023 tournament final, the experience of the Preseli boys proved decisive to claim the £500 prize money on offer.
The young Drovers – many of whom are still teenagers – played some fine rugby to get to the final but the sevens know how of the Preseli boys eventually proved too much.
The Crymych based set up had already won the Teifi and Heart of Wales tournaments this summer and their cohesion and physicality trumped the youthful exuberance of the Llandovery side.
A brace of tries from Ned Bennett and one apiece from Gruff Tough and Daf Waters plus conversions by Ifan Phillips and Trough (2) took them to a 26-5 win, Llandovery’s only score, a late Sam Potter touchdown.
It ended a remarkable day for the Ammanford 19 year old who scored in every pool and knockout stage but still ended up on the losing side despite scoring seven tries and 12 conversions to prove himself the team’s most influential player.
Father and coach Gareth Potter was thrilled by his young side’s advance into the final.
“We can take a lot of positives out of today, with an eye to the future. “
“Morgan Meaclem and Sam controlled matters in attack, Harri Gwyn Jones proved a clinical finisher and the work rate of Jordan Evans, Finn Thomas and Lewis Ellis-Jones was exemplary.”
“Everyone in the squad was involved in some great tries through the day and the whole venture is of great benefit to the aspiring rugby player.”
Bolstered by the presence in the squad of two first team players in skipper Jordan Evans and Lewis Ellis-Jones, the Drovers had looked impressive in their opening games in Pool A
They swept aside Newquay Yacht Club 36-0 and Aberaeron 40-0, scoring 12 tries, six in each game, without conceding a point.
The Potter brothers, Sam and Noah made their mark with Sam notching 24 points from two tries and seven conversions in the two games and younger brother Noah grabbing a brace of tries against Aberaeron
Against Newquay Yacht Club there were two tries apiece for Harri Gwyn Jones and Sam Potter, others from Harri Morgan and Morgan Meaclem.
Meaclem – a new signing from Merthyr – got the first try and conversion against Aberaeron with Noah Potter (2), Harri Gwyn Jones, skipper Jordan Evans and Daf Howell crossing for the others.
A 29-7 win over invitation side 24 Crew took the Drovers comfortably into the semi final after Sam Potter had chipped in with two tries and two conversions to add to efforts from Lewis Ellis-Jones, Evans and Howell.
They faced the Carmarthen Warriors who finished runners up in Pool B after losing 33-14 to the defending champions Preseli Babas, made up largely of the Old Boys of Ysgol Preseli, Crymych.
The Warriors could only muster one try, through Harry Fuller as they went down 31-5 to tries from Sam Potter (2), Gwyn Jones , Meaclem and Ellis-Jones.
The Babas, under skipper Jordan Coxley, beat 24 Crew in the other semi final to set up the clash between the two most fluent teams in the competition.
Their power and pace got them racing clear 26-0 before Sam Potter got the satisfaction of ending the tournament with his seventh try of the day.
Final: Llandovery 5 Preseli Babas 26
Llandovery squad
(Pictured above l-r): Noah Potter, Harri Morgan, Finn Thomas, Sam Potter, Morgan Meaclem, Jordan Evans (CAPT), Lewis Ellis Jones, Leo de Souza, Hari Gwyn Jones, Dafydd Howells
Cup competition:
Semi Final Scores: Llandovery 31 Warriors 5;
Preseli Babas 24 24 Crew 7
Final – Preseli Babas 26 Llandovery 5
Plate Final: 48 Crew 22 New Quay Yacht Club 5
Ladies Final: Carmarthen Warriors 26 Lampeter 0
Players of the tournament – Ladies – Darcy Thomas (Carmarthen Warriors / Burry Port); Men – Ned Bennet, Preseli Babas