The 2013/14 season gets underway today for Neath Port Talbot, Gower and Bridgend Colleges.
Neath Port Talbot start their league season with a home game against Brynteg Comprehensive School who hail from Bridgend.
They start the year on a high after their final preseason games last week when both the first and second teams secured wins. 50 students travelled to Old Swinfords, a school located just outside Birmingham for a fixture that has been in place for more than 20 years. Last season NPT College won by a narrow margin but this year’s squads started as they mean to go on with the firsts winning 50-17 and the seconds by 40-10.
Gower College Swansea also had a successful final week of preseason when both their first and second teams secured wins. The first team travelled to Bristol where they met Filton College at Ding Crusaders RFC. The two teams rarely meet but after beating them last year in the Hartpury Schools Tournament they were keen to do so again.
An exciting and competitive match ensued, including an outstanding try from Osprey’s Under 18’s player Stuart Nicholas, with Gower College Swansea coming out on top after beating them 24-18. The second team, who took on Gwyr Comprehensive School, also won their fixture 24 – 7. The College start their season with an away trip this afternoon to Coleg y Cymoedd in Rhonda Cynon Taff.
Bridgend College start their season at home when they take on Newport High School, with kick off for all games being 2.30pm. In their last round of pre season they took on local rivals Brynteg School. Despite both coming from Bridgend the two teams haven’t faced each other for over 8 years and so it was a highly anticipated derby match. Bridgend put out a strong side with several Eyasses players featuring in the squad and were rewarded when they beat their local rivals 32 – 0.