Fixture

After being knocked out by the Cardiff Metropolitan University in the semi-final of the Welsh Youth Cup last season, Mountain Ash Youth were drawn against them once again, and this young Mount side knew it was not going to be an easy task.
After a promising start by the Young Firm with full back and Captain Jack Roberts putting over an early penalty, Cardiff Mets launched a counter attack resulting in a try out wide on the touchline. With the Young Firm’s heads firmly down, the Mets scored another 2 tries resulting in a dismal scoreline of 17-3 half time. The game looked dead and buried and it was more about how many points the Mets were going to score than anything else.

However, on came backrow forward Cameron Davies off the bench after a few weeks lay off and the game changed. Scrum half Morgan Cartwright took the game to the Mets at every opportunity, his quick tap penalties causing mayhem and panic in the home defence.

The Mets tried to fight back but the tide had turned and a loose ball in midfield was snapped up by Keiron Hawkins who raced away under the posts, Jack Roberts converting. With the score now 20-10 to the students, there was still really only one winner, but the Mountain Ash youngsters had other ideas.

They attacked the Mets at every opportunity with barnstorming performances by forwards Jarrad Morgan, Jordan Burke, Cameron Davies and hooker TJ Stokes. Mount were awarded another penalty which was superbly taken by Jack Roberts.  With minutes left and Mount trailing 20-13, the Young Firm came again. Scrum half Morgan Cartwright was now running the show, taking quick tap penalties and off-loading to Mount forwards who took the game right up to the Mets 5 metre line. Cartwright then sniped off the back of the ruck and cleverly off loaded out of the back of his hand to the ever present TJ Stokes who crashed over under the posts to make the score 20-18. Captain Jack Roberts then probably had the most nervous conversion of his life but he took it oh so well to make the score 20-20 - quite extraordinary.

The Mets kicked off, the Mount forwards gathered safely and the ball was kicked off the park, the referee calling time, which meant the Young Firm went through to the next round due to being the away team.

It was a magnificent display by the Mount team, who had no right to come back against a team of 3rd year University rugby players. Special Mention to Captain Jack Roberts who was magnificent in defence throughout the whole game with his kicking being immense.