The Ospreys U18s opened their season in spectacular fashion against RGC on Sunday afternoon at the Bridgend Ford Brewery Field.
- The RAG champions ran in ten tries against their North Wales opponents and eight conversions between Luke Scully and Declan Thomas
- Ben Cambriani, Iwan Shenton, Tiaan Thomas Wheeler, Ioan Jones, Frankie Jones, Chris Crumpton, Scully and Thomas all crossed over the whitewash in a dominant display from the young squad.
Hoping for a positive start to their championship defence, the Ospreys U18s looked to continue their unbeaten run on from last season, as they faced a tough RGC side on the opening day of the season
The young Ospreys looked for the opening try early on, after quick work from the backs and good support took them into RGC’s 22, but the ball was lost in contact denying them the chance.
Despite RGC being in possession, the Eyasses denied their visitors any territory outside their own half. Eventually the pressure from the hosts became too much, with RGC kicking the ball out in their own 22 putting the Ospreys in a good attacking position.
Another chance went begging, with the young Ospreys losing their lineout. However a knock on from RGC was picked up nicely by the Ospreys and sent out wide to Ben Cambriani for the opening try. A missed conversion left the scores 5-0.
Great pressure from the Ospreys at an RGC scrum on halfway saw them come away with the ball. An offload to Frankie Jones saw the wing blitz through the RGC defence to take him upfield, and support from Iwan Shenton saw the flanker score the second try of the afternoon, converted by Luke Scully.
With momentum on their side, the tries kept on coming. A break from the skipper Scully sent the fly-half under the posts for the third, converting his own try to extend the lead to 19-0.
Only two minutes later the bonus point try was awarded to centre Tiaan Thomas Wheeler and converted by Scully.
RGC looked to build some momentum with a kick to touch finding the Ospreys 22 but a break from try scorer Thomas Wheeler saw the centre race from his own 22, with his fellow centre in support and an offload to Cambriani earned him his second of the game and the Ospreys fifth. The conversion by Scully made it 33-0.
There was just enough time to squeeze in another try before the break, an interception from Thomas Wheeler seeing the centre go over for his second, underneath the posts. Scully converted once again to give the Ospreys a 40-0 lead heading into the break.
Half Time - Ospreys U18s 40 - 0 RGC U18s
Both sides were a little slow to conjure up an attack in the opening stages of the second half.
Eventually RGC were the first to register on the scoreboard, fly-half Harri Jones breaking through to score their first points of the game. A missed conversion from Jones left the scores at 40-5.
But the Ospreys answered back swiftly! A strong scrum and powerful work from the forwards sent Ioan Jones over the line. A conversion by Declan Thomas extended the Ospreys lead.
The Ospreys took full advantage of the momentum back on their side. In a good attacking spell, great interplay amongst the backs saw a pass out wide to Frankie Jones who slid over the line in the corner for the Ospreys’ eighth of the game. Thomas was on target with the conversion and took the scores to 54-5 with 10 minutes left to play.
Dominating affairs, the Ospreys attack kept on coming. A powerful drive from the pack and good control to keep the ball in play, left room for Chris Crumpton to crash over the line for his side's ninth which went unconverted
In hot pursuit for the tenth try, quick thinking from Thomas saw him break the RGC defence once more and score underneath the posts! Converting his own try to the sound of the final whistle made the final scores 66-5 to the Ospreys U18s.
After kicking off their WRU Championship campaign this weekend, next up for the Ospreys U18s is a ‘pre-season’ visit from Northampton Saints on Friday 18th August at Bridgend Ford Brewery Field, K.O 12pm.