North beat South in WRL Student Origin match

WALES STUDENTS ORIGIN GAME

SOUTH SELECT 12 NORTH SELECT 24

By Ian Golden at Monmouth RFC

The North beat the South 24-12 in a tough Student Rugby League encounter in Monmouth on Sunday where the conditions had a big affect on the outcome of the game.

Rain fell for the best part of a day before kick-off and whilst it was dry for most of the 80 minutes, the muddy surface made it difficult for both sides.

This encounter was preparation for the Student Four Nations this summer and the sides were largely selected from where the players study, which is why players like Rhondda-born Cobi Green, who plays for Leeds Beckett University and Bradford Bulls, was a stand-out, marshalling the North side to victory.

The North took an early lead when skipper Rhys Davies slipped through the South back-line. Aled Davies converted.

It was soon 10-0 after Daf Jones slid over in the corner. That was before Corrie Shorrocks went in under the sticks and Davies converted to make it 16-0.

South Wales hit back when Ieuan Roberts scored under the posts and Huw Parks converted to bring it back to 16-6 at the break.

Parks got another try back 12 minutes into the second half, converting himself, but despite being down to 12 men after Dewi Billingham was sinbinned for backchat, the North scored two further tries in the mud to seal victory.

South were making mistakes in the wrong places and North took full advantage. A dropped ball in the grease gave Daf Jones the opportunity to get his second, before Green, who seemed to have no issues coping with the pitch, went over in the corner for his side’s fifth.

The Wales Students train-on squad will be released at the end of the week.

SOUTH WALES

1. George Edge (University of Warwick)
2. Dom King (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
3. James Bartlett (Cardiff and Vale College)
4. Brandon Lamb (Coleg Gwent)
5. Keiron Lewis (Coleg Y Cymoedd)
6. Mathew Morgan (Coleg Y Cymoedd)
7. Morgan Cochran (Coleg Y Cymoedd)
8. Adam Young (Coleg Gwent)
9. James Wickham (Coventry University)
10. Jacob Lee (Coleg Y Cymoedd)
11. Mathew Jones (Coleg Y Cymoedd)
12. Lloyd Selby-Smith (University of South Wales) (c)
13. Max Hendy (University of Worcester)

Interchanges:

14. Morgan Parsons (Coleg Y Cymoedd)
15. Charlie Bodman (Coleg Y Cymoedd)
16. Huw Parks (Cardiff University)
17. Ieaun Roberts (Coleg Y Cymoedd)

Tries: Roberts (27), Parks (52)

Goals: Parks 2/2

NORTH WALES

1. Conor Harding (Coleg Llandrillo)
2. William Lynch (Rydal Penrhos School)
3. Daf Jones (Bangor University)
4. Henri Roberts (Coleg Llandrillo)
5. Aled Davies (Liverpool John Moores University)
6. Fraser Stroud (Leeds Beckett University)
7. Cobi Green (Leeds Beckett University)
8. Billy Forrester (West Cheshire College)
9. Macualey Harris (Leeds Beckett University)
10. Rob Davies (University of South Wales)
11. Ellis Simon (Leeds Beckett University)
12. Rhys Davies (Leeds Beckett University) (C)
13. Dewi Billington (Leeds Beckett University)

Interchanges:

14. Ryan Griffiths (Wigan Warriors Sports Education College)
15. James Popaduk (Bangor University)
16. Nick Dundee (Bangor University)
17. Edward Farmilo (University of Hull)
18. Brandon Aviet (Coleg Y Cymoedd)
19. Corrie Shorrocks (Bangor University)

Tries: Rhys Davies (4), Jones (7, 65), Shorrocks (20), Green (70)

Goals: Aled Davies 2/5

Referee: Kristoff Young

Half-time: 6-16