Plenty of positives despite defeat
A cracking game of rugby played in a freezing wind resulted in a home defeat for the NW Academy U16 side against a big Yorkshire outfit.
Pictures show the NW Academy squad and an action shot from the game. Please click on the pictures to enlarge
In spite of the scoreline the North Wales Under 16 Team can take many positives from their match against Yorkshire played at Wrexham Rugby Club. From the outset the powerful Yorkshire side,in spite of playing into the face of a strong breeze, showed their intent by looking to run the ball at every opportunity and their early pressure led to 2 penalties from their outside-half. Their territorial domination was maintained for much of the remainder of the opening period leading to 2 tries from their lively back division. However just before half-term came possibly the moment that defined the ultimate outcome of the game. As the North Wales side laid siege to the visitors line,so a loose pass was snapped up by the Yorkshire sides full-back who ran the length of the field to touch-down under the posts and give his side a 20 points to nil half-time lead.
It would have been to all too easy for the home side to throw the towel in after the interval, however showing tremendous spirit they re-grouped to make it a much more even contest. With their front-row of Callum Mitchell,Sion Hughes and Luke Williams causing the visitors all sorts of difficulties in the set-piece and Emyr Gwynedd and Joe Hughes leading the way in defence the North Wales side continually threatened the Yorkshire-line only without being able to cross it. Their try when it came was a great solo effort from Rhodri Mayor who collected a loose kick from the away side on the 10 metre line before outstripping the cover defence to score in the corner. A further 2 tries from the Yorkshire side may have flattered them in respect of the size of their winning margin, however there was no doubt that they ran out deserved winners.
North Wales Under 16 next fixture is against Boys Clubs of Wales on 27th March in Llanidloes
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