News

Millfield V Welsh Academicals

Accies U18s pull away late on to win in superb game of rugby. 

On Saturday 20th January 2024 a Welsh Academicals Squad featuring players from a wide selection of schools and colleges travelled to Street for this annual fixture. It was a crisp clear winters’ day and the Sir Gareth Edwards pitch was in immaculate condition. The players and non-playing representatives received a warm welcome both on and off the pitch and the game was an exciting, open and quality game of rugby played in excellent conditions.

From the first whistle both sides showed a willingness to get the ball wide on a pristine pitch and entertain the large crowd and it was the home side who opened the scoring on 12 minutes when following a great break down the left wing the ball was recycled and the Millfield second row forward went over for an unconverted try. The Accies replied on 19 minutes after lineout ball was secured and initially driven before being recycled allowing centre Twm Davies to score a try that was converted by fly half Rhun Davies to put the Accies 7-5 up. 3 minutes later slick handling including an inside pass allowed co-centre Roan Smith to sidestep over for an unconverted try to extend the lead. The lead was short lived as the home side came back after 27 minutes to create an overlap and put their full back over for a try that was converted by the home 10 and the scores were tied at 12 all. With half time approaching Accies number 8 Charlie Evans picked up from a scrum and the ball ended up with full back and Captain Peter Richmond to register an unconverted try and turn around leading by 17 points to 12.

Wholesale changes were made by the Accies at half time to ensure all the squad had plenty of game time. The second half was a continuation of the running rugby we had witnessed during the first half and first to register points were the Accies when a penalty was quickly taken following a drive from a lineout with replacement scrum half Jake Lewis scoring another unconverted try. Millfield then exerted some pressure which led to a try by  replacement number 22 that was converted by the home 10 to reduce the arrears to only 3 at 19-22.From the restart the Accies won possession and the pressure led to a further unconverted try by replacement prop Tyler Dean. There was a temporary lull in the scoring until the hour mark when the Millield blindside wing forward made an excellent break from half way to score an unconverted try and bring the difference back to 3. Two late tries in the last 10 minutes sealed victory,  the first scored by centre Twm Davies and the second a brilliant individual effort by full back Peter Richmond after picking up the ball in his own 22. Replacement fly half Fraser Britton converted both to register a 41 points to 24 victory for the Accies. The afternoon was rounded off with food, speeches and tie presentations. An excellent occasion and our thanks once again to our brilliant hosts at Millfield. 

Welsh Academicals

Backs                                                                            

Peter Richmond ©        Coloeg y Cymoedd                    Oliver Hawke                QEH Carmarthen

Luke Incledon               St John’s Leatherhead               Roan Smith                   Pembrokeshire Coll 

Twm Davies                  Coleg Sir Gar                             Iestyn Hutchings           Whitchurch HS

Oliver Das                     Hurstpierpoint                         Rhun Davies                  Coleg Sir Gar

Noah Potter                  Maes Gwendraeth                    Jake Lewis                     Dyffryn Amman

Fraser Britton               Whitchurch HS  

Forwards                                                          

Bailey Wright                Lancaster RGS               Tyler Dean                                Llanishen HS

Sam Bartlett                 Whitchurch HS              Griff Williams-Pole                    Maes Gwendraeth 

James Steele                 Whitchurch HS              Freddie Highway                       Whitchurch HS

Owen Mills                   Haileybury                    Harry Avoth                              Bryanston

Niall Moore                  Whitchurch HS              Connor Madden                        Cardinal Newman

Harrison Cooksey          Glantaf                         Charlie Evans                            Worthing HS

Theo Lewis                   Whitchurch HS