Wales Rugby League Grand Finalists confirmed for Sunday

South Wales Jets and Aberavon Fighting Irish will contest the JES Group Rugby League Conference Grand Final for the second year in succession after both sides won their semi-finals in very different circumstances on Saturday.

The Jets cruised through against Cynon Valley Cavaliers, winning 42-10 after being 22-4 up at half-time.

The League’s leading try scorer Marcus Webb added to his tally with a hat-trick, two of which were before the interval. Captain Dean Higgs contributed with a brace of first-half tries with Lewis Hughes, Jacob Lee and Lewis Jones all adding scores in the second half. Shane Lee kicked five goals. The Cavaliers scored a try near to the end of each half, through Keenan Davies and then Jacob Morris with Bradley Toy kicking their goal.

Bridgend Blue Bulls were 12-10 up at half-time against Aberavon at home before the visitors turned the tables to win 26-18.

Jack Davies had given Aberavon the lead on 13 minutes with a try that Elli Evans improved. Bridgend were quickly level with a Nathan Morgan try that Corey Harris converted.

Aberavon were next over, Will Davies scoring an unconverted effort on the half hour, with Jake Whitfield replying five minutes later. Harris missed the kick but added a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

In the second half, Aberavon scored three tries in a row, Will Davies adding his second that Evans converted, Aaron Cookson added one before an Evans try and goal wrapped things up. A late Ieuan Ace try that Harris converted was mere consolation.

The JES Rugby League Conference Grand Finals Day will be a five-game festival at The Lextan Gnoll in Neath on Sunday, following Sunday’s semi-finals.

The U12 final, that kicks off finals day this coming Sunday 18th August, will be a local derby between Aber Valley Wolves and South Wales Jets. The Wolves from Caerphilly won 28-0 away at previously unbeaten Swansea Rams, whilst joint table toppers Jets from Ystrad Mynach, who have a few players who were on Wolves’ books last year, easily overcame Pontyclun Kings 48-0.

Torfaen Tigers also overcame unbeaten opposition to reach the U13 final. They beat Bridgend Blue Bulls, who had won seven out of seven in the regular season, 22-10 at Pyle. Hirwaun’s Cynon Valley Cavaliers beat Aber Valley Wolves 30-16 at home to join them.

In what was a tightly contested top four in the U14 league, one of the semi-finals showed how close things were with Aber Valley beating Bridgend 20-18, meaning the Bulls lost all three home semi-finals at the weekend. The Cavaliers easily overcame the Tigers 48-12 to join them in the final.

The U16 league saw three sides finish on 12 points at the top of the table, and it’s the sides who were at home thanks to points difference, who will contest the final, with Swansea beating Cynon Valley 42-20 to join league leaders Aber Valley.

RESULTS

JES Rugby League Conference semi-finals
South Wales Jets 42-10 Cynon Valley Cavaliers
Bridgend Blue Bulls 18-26 Aberavon Fighting Irish

U12 semi-finals
Swansea Rams 0-28 Aber Valley Wolves
South Wales Jets 48-0 Pontyclun Kings

U13 semi-finals
Bridgend Blue Bulls 10-22 Torfaen Tigers
Cynon Valley Cavaliers 30-16 Aber Valley Wolves

U14 semi-finals
Bridgend Blue Bulls 18-20 Aber Valley Wolves
Cynon Valley Cavaliers 48-12 Torfaen Tigers

U16 semi-finals
Aber Valley Wolves 24-0 Torfaen Tigers
Swansea Rams 42-20 Cynon Valley Cavaliers

FIXTURES

Sunday 18 August – JES Group Grand Finals Day – The Lextan Gnoll, Neath
U12 Grand Final – Aber Valley Wolves v South Wales Jets – KO 10am
U13 Grand Final – Torfaen Tigers v Cynon Valley Cavaliers – KO 11am
U14 Grand Final – Aber Valley Wolves v Cynon Valley Cavaliers – KO 12.15pm
U16 Grand Final – Aber Valley Wolves v Swansea Rams – KO 2pm
JES Rugby League Conference Grand Final – South Wales Jets v Aberavon Fighting Irish – KO 4pm