Whitland Youth win 33-24 in Haverfordwest

Haverfordwest Youth and Whitland Youth served up a highly entertaining nine-try 13-a-side fest at Merlins Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

The Young Blues could only field 13 players and the visitors sportingly accommodated them by fielding the same number of players.

The game got off to a high-tempo start but it was understandably littered with early handling errors and mistakes as the high winds caused both teams problems.

Borderers’ coach Domenico Setaro was happy his side led 26-12 at half time, but to their full credit the young Blues fought back and only lost by nine points at the final whistle.

Referee Charlie Watts had a good game, keeping a tight rein on proceedings while trying to keep the game flowing as much as possible.

Whitland Youth scored five tries as impressive outside half Iolo Rees collected 18 points, the outside half racing over for two tries and kicking four conversions. Flanker Brandon Williams, prop Sam Davies and replacement Ryan Gooding also crossed the whitewash.

The Blues also grabbed four tries with classy centre Jack Evans and crash ball No 8 specialist Isaac Hathaway both going over for a try brace apiece. Full back Jonny White kicked two conversions.

Blues coaches’ Andrew Thicker, Peter Hughes and Craig Jones must be happy with the way their young team performed and Borderers’ coach Setaro was equally pleased with his side’s wholehearted effort, both in attack and defence.

Haverfordwest Youth: Jonny White, Jack Blockwell, Jack Evans, Iestyn Miles-Nash, Jason Stobbs, Lewis Curtis, Owen Hamer, Iestyn Howells, Josh Evans, Ben Mathias-Milsom, Lewis Tingay, Jack Codd, Isaac Hathaway.

Whitland Youth: Rhys Hamfrey, Owen Palmer, Cian Williams, Rufus Cox, Lewis Gibbon, Iolo Rees, Trystan Rees, Tom Lloyd, Aled Thomas, Sam Davies, Ben Taylor, Ronan Peterson, Brandon Williams, Rhodri Dyer, Dan Bennett. Replacements: Dylan George, Frankie Hanlon-Boyd, Max Jones, Dan Fitzgibbon, Ryan Gooding, Tiger Lloyd.

Referee: Charlie Watts.