Match report and pictures from yesterday's nail-biter
Narrow defeat in the Capital for North Wales Senior Academy team
Please click on pictures to enlarge
Report from Ian Harrison, Team Manager:
This was an intriguing fixture with one of Wales’ oldest club sides playing Wales’ youngest set-up, a chance for the North Wales side to establish their credentials on the ‘hallowed’ turf of the Arms Park. There was fair sized crowd to watch this friendly fixture and the ‘Gogs’ were noisily supported by large number of Canadians here to support their fellow countrymen playing fr their adopted North Wales.
The game started well for the ‘Gogs’ who were awarded a kickable penalty after 2 minutes and with a number of breaks taking them to the very edge of the Cardiff try line. A 5m scrum after 12 minutes saw the ball break to the right and Connor Braid went over for a try which he then converted. That made it 7-0 to the visitors who then spent most of the first twenty minutes in the Cardiff half of the field.
Then after 28 minutes the game turned on its head as Cardiff broke down the left and full-back Alex Cuthbert went over for a try converted by Scott Sneddon – 7-7. Seven minutes later Cardiff again exploited a left side defence of the North Walians that was not functioning effectively with an unconverted try from flanker Thomas Young – 19-7.
Worse was to come as straight from the kick-off Alex Cuthbert got his second try down the left again this time Scott Sneddon converted to make the score 19-7. Almost on the stroke of half time Cardiff scored a fourth try down the left this time by Nathan Rees which went unconverted giving a half-time score of Cardiff 24 WRU NW senior Academy 7.
The ‘Gogs’ changing room at half time could not have been a pleasant place to be and whatever words were spoken, they seemed to work. Within 5 minutes of the kick off centre Nick Blevins went over for an unconverted try – 24-12. Cardiff replied within 3 minutes scoring after a short period of pressure on the ‘Gogs’ try line – 29-12.
After 60 minutes the ‘Gogs’ were awarded a penalty on the Cardiff 20m line which was quickly taken by scrum half Sean White and worked out to the right wing where Ben Stelmaszek touched down The try was converted with a fine kick from Connor Braid – 29-19. The score stayed that way for a further 15 minutes when Sean White, now playing at full-back after a wave of substitutions, picked up a loose Cardiff clearance on their 10m line and ran a jinking run to touch down under the posts. The try was converted by Connor Braid – 29-26.
The ‘Gogs’ had a number of chances to seal a win including one sweeping move that took them from deep within their own 22m ending with a break by Tom Seddon which took then well into the Cardiff half of the field, a try being missed by a stray last pass. On 80mins the ‘Gogs’ thought they were about to win it when a backs move put Ben Stelmaszek sprinting down the right seemingly out of sight opf th home defenders. The referees whistle stopped him however as the linesman had spotted a foot in touch. The final whistle then blew and an exciting game was over.
So the ‘Gogs’ big adventure was not to end in a victory. It should have done but Cardiff’s purple patch in the second quarter of the game sealed it. I am sure that though they lost a match they gained some friends, admirers and well-wishers for the development of the North Wales regional side.
Next Saturday the WRU NW Senior Academy play away to Aberavon KO 12:00. The challenges get bigger each week but the determination in the camp is high. One thing however is certain, we will be cheered on by the Cardiff club and their supporters, they play Aberavon in the cup the week after!
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