SOUTH WALES SCORPIONS RESERVES 44 PARACHUTE REGIMENT RL 22

By Ian Golden at Virginia Park

Despite a good comeback from the Parachute Regiment in the second half, a final burst from South Wales Scorpions’ reserves gave them a 44-22 win in an entertaining friendly match in Caerphilly on Wednesday night.

Scorpions took the lead from their first attack. Just 68 seconds had gone when Huw Parks scored underneath the sticks and Ben Jones easily converted.

A good passing move led to Para levelling the scores with Daryn Smith grounding in the corner and Ben O’Connell converting.

An excellent try from Ethan Coombes gave Scorpions the lead back as he sold a couple of dummies and then fought off the opposition to roll over the line. Jones converted again.

The advantage was extended to 10 points after a gap was opened for Ben Jones to easily run home, but was unable to convert.

Scorpions scored their fourth try from the re-start. Another burst of speed from Coombes gave him his second of the night and Jones had no problems adding the extras.

And they ended the first half on a high after Lewys Willacott intercepted a high pass on Scorpions’ own 10 metre line, and he ran the 90 metres virtually unchallenged to score. Jones couldn’t convert and the Scorpions were 26-6 up at the break.

The Paras fought back in the second half as a hat-trick of tries from Scott Evans, then a good run from Lloyd Wheelson, all of which went unconverted, brought the score back to 26-22.

But Scorpions did finally get on the board again in the 68^th minute when Ben Jones picked up a loose ball and ran 30 metres to score, converting himself.

They followed that up straight away with another try when Dafydd Hellard burst through to score under the sticks, Jones adding the extras to make the score comfortable again at 38-22.

And with the last play of the game, Coombes burst through the line for his hat-trick and Jones kicked the final goal.

SCORPIONS

7. Rhys Gant
8. Lewys Willacott
9. Ben Jones
10. Josh Stafford Smith
11. Liam Silver
12. Cobi Green
13. Fraser Stroud
14. Ethan Coombes
15. Huw Parks
16. Rhys Davies
17. Mike Edwards
18. Paul Edwards
19. Dai Hellard

Subs:

10. Josh Barden
11. Josh Williams
12. Shane Lee
13. Sam Buckthought
14. Kristian Baller
15. Anthony Symons
16. Jamie I’Anson

TRIES: Huw Parks (2)

Ethan Coombes (14, 26, 79)

Lewys Willacott (38)

Ben Jones           (68, 23)

Dafydd Hellard  (73)

GOALS  Ben Jones 6/8

PARAS

1. Luke Dawes
2. Nathan Smith
3. James Beaumont
4. Nate Llewellyn
5. Daryn Smith
6. Carl Thompson
7. Ben O’Connell
8. Oliver Towers
9. Lloyd Wheelson
10. Tui Setolu
11. Dave Nunnerley
12. Jack Austin
13. Chris Wright

Subs:

14. Andy Windsor
15. Tom Lovett
16. Adam Gwynne
17. James Newson
18. David White
19. Scott Evans

TRIES     Daryn Smith       (11)

Scott Evans (46, 51, 59)

Lloyd Wheelson (62)

GOALS  Ben O’Connell 1/5

Referee: James Jones

Half-time: 26-6

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