The Ospreys U18’s took part in the #wrusupersix on Sunday at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park
The #wrusupersix was a day of rugby featuring of the four professional regions, the North Wales Development Region (RGC), and Welsh Exiles – Welsh-qualified Under 19 players based outside Wales.
Each side played three, 40-minute matches throughout the day, with slight rule adaptations in place to put an emphasis on fast, running rugby to hone skills under pressure and develop game intensity.
Main rule adaptations:
No goal kick or scrum option from a penalty or free kick
No conversions
No open field kicks straight out of play except for full penalty
Only one driving line-out per team per half
Round one
First up for the young Ospreys were the Welsh Exiles.
In the eighth minute of the game second row Stefan Jones was taken off the field with a neck injury and taken to hospital. Thankfully he has now been released from hospital without serious concerns and must take it easy for a couple of days.
With one injury blow already it was only three minutes later where prop Jordan Walters was forced off the field injured. But the young side weren’t going to let that stop them. On the quarter of an hour mark wing Llyr Gealy flew past the Exiles defence and over the try line for the Eyasses first of the day.
Then just at the half way point prop Rhys Williams was the third player substituted due to an injury. The Exiles were next on the scoreboard with wing Murray Belis scoring their first try. All even at 23 minutes but five minutes later the young Ospreys powered their way into the Exiles half, and it was substitute Rhys Henry who crashed over the line putting the Ospreys U18 in the lead, 5-10.
But with five minutes left on the clock it was the Exiles who pushed the Ospreys U18’s back into their 22, and a break by centre Zak Chambers evened the scores. And only three minutes later Bryn Goodall came off his wing to put the Exiles ahead for the first time, 15-10.
But with 40 minutes gone it was the young Ospreys who had the final say, centre Dylan Moss crashing over the line, to even the scores at the final whistle.
FULL TIME – Welsh Exiles 15 – 15 Ospreys U18’s
Round 2
Could the young Ospreys replicate the result from the senior squad the night before, as they faced the Dragons U18’s in round two?
The young Dragons were quick off the mark, wing Cory Howells crossing the line with only two minutes on the clock. Their next try wasn’t long behind, gaining possession and testing the young Ospreys defence, it was hooker Will Griffiths who crashed over the line with six minutes played.
With an early 10-0 lead, the Dragons were in control of the game not giving the young Ospreys any possession or opportunity to score. Howells spied a gap in the defence and raced over the line for his second of the game and third for his side, extending their lead to 15-0.
With tensions growing both sides were awarded a yellow card, which equalled five minutes in the sin bin, number eight Iwan Shenton sent off for the Ospreys U18’s in the 35th minute. It was the Dragons who rounded off the scoring with fullback James Mc Carthy scoring as soon as Shenton left the field, the young Dragons denying their opposition any points on the board as round two ended.
FULL TIME Dragons U18’s 20- 0 Ospreys U18’s
Round 3
With one draw and one loss from the first two rounds, the Ospreys U18’s were looking to end the day with a win when they took on the Blues U18’s in the final round of games.
After the disappointment from the Dragons loss, the young Ospreys were all fired up and wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard, centre Ben Cambriani scoring with just three minutes on the clock. Their early lead was short lived with fullback Ioan Davies scoring for the Blues.
After gaining possession and pushing their opposition back into their own 22 it was second row Ioan Rhys Davies who crashed over the try line for the Blues U18’s putting them ahead at 10-5.
Claiming back possession and working their way through the phases, number eight Will Barraclough then powered over the line for the Ospreys U18’s evening the scores once again.
In a battle of the forwards, it was Ioan Rhys Davies again who broke the young Ospreys defence and put his side ahead once again. But Barraclough was quick to answer back in the next stage of play. Five minutes after his first try he crashed over for his second and making it equal at 15-15.
With just under half an hour played the tries were coming thick and fast from both sides. Scrum-half Thomas Ham took advantage from a scrum and raced over for a try putting the Ospreys ahead once more.
But the Blues weren’t giving up there, catching the young Ospreys off guard, quick tries from wing Eddie Francis and number eight Owen Lloyd added to their score making it 25-20 to the Blues U18’s with 10 minutes left.
Just like before the young Ospreys battled their way back to even the scores, lock Iwan Shenton hurtling over the line with just over five minutes left to play.
A great game of running rugby then saw Blues wing Tom Meehan showing his pace, scoring not one but two tries for his side in the final five minutes, making it 35-25 to the young Blues.
But the Eyasses showed great passion and worked their way back up field into the Blues 22 when their efforts were rewarded, Cambriani breaking the opposition’s defence and scoring his second of the game.
Coming up just short in their final game with the Young Blues edging the score 35-30, it was an outstanding effort from the young Ospreys side.
FULL TIME Blues U18’s 35 – 30 Ospreys U18’s
The Ospreys U18’s will resume their new season in the new year when the full U18 RAG Championship kicks off.