Wales Rugby League Grand Final reports

Grand Final Day

Wales Rugby League have thanked Rhondda Outlaws and Pontypridd RFC for organising a very successful Grand Final day.

The Outlaws organised much of the event, from running the gate, to the PA announcing and even sourcing sponsorship for the match programme printing.

If that wasn’t enough, Ieuan Griffiths, the Outlaws substitute in their senior Grand Final against Bridgend Blue Bulls, actually refereed the U12 final between Bridgend and Aber Valley Wolves earlier in the day, plus their full-back Rhodri Garland was PA announcer for the first two finals.

Over 600 people passed through the gates throughout the day and were treated to an outstanding festival of rugby league.

In the main event, the 17^th Welsh Grand Final, Rhondda Outlaws defeated Bridgend Blue Bulls in a see-saw game that enthralled the large crowd.

The day started with a match in pouring rain where Bridgend’s U12 side just saw off Aber Valley Wolves 10-8, a single conversion being the difference between the sides.

Bridgend had an easier ride in the U14 final, defeating newcomers Cynon Valley Cavaliers 38-6 with the gallant runners up fighting hard throughout.

And the U16 final saw the game of the day where Aber Valley consigned Torfaen Tigers to their tenth final defeat in a row as a club, winning 42-30 with the result in doubt up until the final five minutes.

Peter Tiffin, Wales Rugby League’s development manager, said: “What a fantastic day of rugby league we’ve had here at Sardis Road.

“We’ve had four great finals showcasing the talent we have here in Wales.

“Everything both on and off the pitch has run like clockwork and I would like to thank everyone involved. Every single volunteer has made sure the day has been as professional as can be and I look forward to more events at Sardis Road in the future.”

WELSH GRAND FINAL
RHONDDA OUTLAWS 34 BRIDGEND BLUE BULLS 22
By Ian Golden at Sardis Road

Rhondda Outlaws claimed the 17^th Welsh Grand Final on their own ground after beating Bridgend Blue Bulls 34-22 in a classic encounter.

Bridgend were aiming for their tenth final victory after winning the first five finals from 2003-07, but for the Outlaws, it was their first final, and indeed victory, after three years of running a senior side.

Richie Lewis slid over to give Outlaws the lead on five minutes. Max Hendy missed the kick.

Corey Harris dived through a cluster of players to level things 11 minutes later and Gareth Howells converted to put them 6-4 up.

They extended their lead on 22 minutes when Stuart Robson slid over in the corner and Howells converted.

Rhondda’s downfall in the early stages was their handling errors. Making seven in the first 25 minutes, they were punished just after that as Dale Wood was sent over in the same corner as the last try, following a good set of passes. Howells’ kick was short on this occasion.

The Outlaws got a try back on 32 minutes. It was a 50-metre run from Tom Hopkins who fought off his challengers, pushing Luke Davies away twice, to score under the posts. Max Hendy converted to bring the score back to 16-10.

Then two minutes before half-time, Rhondda scored their third. Lee Griffiths crossed in the corner with Hendy failing to convert, giving Bridgend a 16-14 lead at the break.

Outlaws regained the lead two minutes into the second half after Tom Hale successfully chased down a kick to dive in the corner and Chris Harris converted.

Bridgend led again on 51 minutes. Luke Davies forced his way over and Howells converted.

But Rhondda scored again with 13 minutes remaining after Jackson Huntley slid over. The conversion was missed giving them a two-point advantage.

That extended to six and the largely home crowd erupted when Max Hendy slipped through the Bridgend defence on 73 minutes. He converted his own try to increase their lead to 30-22.

And the sealed the win three minutes later when Kevin James burst through a tired Blue Bulls backline. Max Hendy missed the conversion meaning Bridgend were just two tries adrift, but time was on the Outlaws’ side.

Bridgend gave it one last go after Rhondda dropped the ball from kick-off, but the Outlaws defence kept them out and the Pontypridd side celebrated victory.

WELSH U16 GRAND FINAL – ABER VALLEY WOLVES 42 TORFAEN TIGERS 30
By Ian Golden

Aber Valley Wolves won an outstanding U16 Final beating Torfaen Tigers 42-30 with the result being in doubt right up until the last few minutes.

Torfaen have now lost ten finals in a row as a club, their last victory being in the U15 Final in 2015 against Cardiff.

Aber Valley, who were only in the final after Cardiff pulled out due to over half of their squad being away on holidays or rugby tours, lost 40-26 to Torfaen in the semi-final a week ago, but pulled off the win where it mattered.

Wolves scored after just two minutes through Billy Walkley that Harry Fletcher converted.

Six minutes later the score was doubled following a strong Iwan Horley run that Fletcher also improved.

By 16 minutes, it was 12-12 thanks to two tries and conversions from Harry Johnson, the second going under the sticks making it easier for his kick.

Lewis Richards added a third to give Torfaen the lead for the first time but Aber Valley soon retained and improved in when Owen Isaac went over for a quick brace, the first improved by Fletcher.

But Torfaen levelled it at 22-all before half-time. Ben Williams slid over and Johnson converted.

Wolves regained the lead four minutes into the second half through a try from Fletcher with his conversion attempt hitting the post.

Torfaen levelled again as Ieuan Hancock grounded with Johnson’s kick also hitting the post.

And in this most dramatic of finals, the pendulum again swung Wolves’ way as Matty Brooks scored with Fletcher converting.

The teams continued to swap tries. Hancock for Torfaen, then Mason Phillips for Aber Valley, both going unconverted, making it 36-30 to the Wolves with less than 15 minutes to go.

Wolves finally sealed the victory with four minutes remaining after Scott Pritchard ran over and Fletcher converting.

WELSH U14 GRAND FINAL – BRIDGEND BLUE BULLS 38 CYNON VALLEY CAVALIERS 6
By Ian Golden

Bridgend Blue Bulls had too much firepower for Cynon Valley Cavaliers, who had reached the U14 Grand Final in their first year as a club, storming home 38-6.

The Bulls, who were unbeaten in the regular season and only dropped a point in their final league match, at home to the Cavaliers, took the lead on 10 minutes through a Donovan Rankin try that Morgan Davies converted.

From kick-off, Andrew Moore ran over to make it 10-0. That went unconverted, as did Rankin’s second and Bridgend’s third on 17 minutes to make it 14-0.

From the first set after the next kick-off, Morgan Davies ran in under the sticks and Luke Murnane converted again to put the half-time score on 20-0.

Cynon Valley could have got a try back early in the second half but Dylan Lewis’ 70 metre run was stopped with just a couple of metres to go to the line.

After Bridgend successfully defended the rest of that set, they increased their lead when Davies ran half the length for his second and Murnane converted.

Cynon Valley finally got a try back through Travis Hawkins that Jarrod Hippsley improved but it was mere consolation.

The last say went to Bridgend who got two tries right at the end. First Troy Shearan scored in the corner. Then with the last play of the game, Jac Gaines dived over.

WELSH U12 GRAND FINAL – BRIDGEND BLUE BULLS 10 ABER VALLEY WOLVES 8
By Ian Golden

In a very competitive U12 Grand Final, Bridgend Blue Bulls took the trophy 10-8 against Aber Valley Wolves with just a conversion between the sides.

Whilst Bridgend were unfortunate not to get an early try, it was the Wolves who got the first score of the game. A great run from Kai Sengul put them 4-0 up on seven minutes.

Ollie Edwards quickly levelled with a try from close range then got his and Bridgend’s second to put them in front. Luke Ingram converted the second of them to make it 10-4 at half-time.

The heavens well and truly opened making ball-handling difficult and causing it to be slippery underfoot on Pontypridd’s excellent 4G surface. But that didn’t stop Iestyn Thomas from keeping his feet and running 50 metres to score just left of the sticks for Aber Valley. Crucially again it was unconverted.

Wolves kept attacking but Bridgend’s outstanding defence kept them out when they were camped on their line for a whole set.

Even after Wolves were awarded a penalty 25 metres from the Bulls line for tackling without the ball, they still couldn’t get over the line and Bridgend held on.