Young Cofis proved excellent ambassadors for Caernarfon and have made friends throughout Ceredigion, with all three clubs expressing a genuine interest in return visits to Caernarfon next year
Caernarfon Under 11s faced a stiff challenge to start their West Wales tour playing Lampeter on Saturday morning. A very well drilled and skilful Lampeter team raced into an unassailable lead leaving the travelling Cofis rocking on their heels. It would have been easy for the young north Walians to have given up. But to their credit, they continued to battle on, with Huw Evans crossing the whitewash to put some points on the board. Then in quick succession Llew Williams crossed twice, with conversions by Meilyr Povey and Evans. But the hosts weren’t finished and ended the game with a flourish, leaving the travellers on the wrong end of a 69-19 defeat. However the hospitality at Lampeter Rugby Club helped ease the pain of the result.
On Sunday morning Aberystwyth played host to round robin of games between Aberystwyth, Aberaeron and Caernarfon which started with the West Walians playing each other – an opportunity for the Cofis to check out the opposition. With Aberystwyth beating Aberaeron 40-0 it became obvious where challenge of the day would come from.
Playing Aberaeron first the Cofis went into the lead via a Rhys Jones try and Meilyr Povey conversion. Llew Williams added to his personal tally with another try, Povey making it 14-0 to the travellers at half time. The second half started with a bang as Bo Leung proved impossible to stop as he muscled his way over the try line for his first try of the season. By now the Cofis had the measure of the Cardis and Jamie Simmonds and Pedr Jones were to score in quick succession before Williams was to add his second of the game, his fourth of the tour. Another try by Pedr Jones and conversions by Siôn Wyn Jones, meant Caernarfon had their first win of the tour 45-0.
Playing two games back to back, on a warm spring day, at the end of a tour packed with rugby and social events was always going to be a big ask. Whilst Aberystwyth went into a deserved lead, some resolute defending meant the Cofis were only 19-0 down at half time. The game was a spectacle of excellent handling and passing by both sides, with one seasoned local saying that it was the best rugby he had seen this year. Llew Williams crossed for the only Cofi try, justifiably earning himself the award of the player of the tour. Huw Evans added the extras. The game finishing 40-7.
Looking back on their first tour, the young Cofis will have been pleased to have put points on the board in all games, they will also have leant something about rugby and themselves. They proved excellent ambassadors for Caernarfon and have made friends throughout Ceredigion, with all three clubs expressing a genuine interest in return visits to Caernarfon next year.
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