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18 June 2019 / Club News

Youth Celebrate Fine Season

Mountain Ash Youth held its end of season presentation night to celebrate probably the finest season in its long and proud history. That’s saying something as there’s been some cracking Youth teams in the 62 year history of the Youth XV which was founded in 1956.

Coaches

Peter Rees, Matthew Rees, Gwyn Reddick, Dale Keepin

Secretary

Tom Carwright

 

Squad Members

Ben Parfitt, Jarrod Cushion, Rhys Williams, Darren Howe, Connor Tedstone, Uzman Zaheer, Dylan Davies, Mitchell Barnard, Jamie Long, Mason Cooper, Cameron Owen, Ryan Jenkins, Callum Lewis, Ewan Jones, Kieran Coomer, Connor O’Sullivan, Ethan Conway, Daniel Hier, Mason Jones, Owen Pullman, Owen Jenkins, Garrin Williams, Ewan Rees, Morgan Cartwright (Captain), Jak Thomas, Owain Reddick, Cameron Samuel, Iestyn Cartwright.

 

This season the Young Firm won 3 trophies:

  1. The Blues Premier Division,
  2. The WRU / Principality Champion of Champions Play-Off Trophy, and,
  3. The Blues North Cup.

In the Premier division, there was an early 20-19 defeat due to a lack of fitness back in September 2019, but this was quickly put right and during the second half of the season, there was no fitter team than Mountain Ash.

In the Champions of Champions play-off trophy, Neath Athletic, the Ospreys champions were beaten 32-22 in the quarter final. Then there was a 22-16 win against Dragons champions, Newport HSOB, in Caerphilly despite the Old Boys playing with 5 Welsh Internationals. In the final, Scarlets champions Crymych, who had beaten North Wales champions, Nant Conwy, 26-19, were played at the Talbot Athletic ground, the home of Aberavon RFC. What a great game of rugby it was, the Young Firm coming out on top 26-23, 4 tries to 3, to lift the most prestigious trophy in Youth rugby in Wales.

A week later, Merthyr Youth were beaten 24-11 in Ystrad Mynach to complete a superb treble for the season.

Playing record

Played 24, Won 19, Drawn 2, Lost 3.

Points scored 603, which included 95 tries, Points Conceded 397.

The last defeat of the season was on 8 December. After that, 13 games were won to finish the season in style.

Top Points Scorers

Scrum half and captain Morgan Cartwright got at least 101,

Centre Jarrod Cushion at least 99.

 Top Try Scorers

Centre Jarrod Cushion got at least 14,

Centre Jamie Long, No.8 Ryan Jenkins and scrum half Morgan Cartwright got at least 10 each,

Flanker Owen Jenkins got 7,

Outside half Ethan Conway got 6,

Hooker Kieran Coomer scored at least 5.

 

In March, second row Mitchell Barnard played for the Wales U.19 side versus Japan High Schools in Taffs Well which Wales won 31-29. Mitchell came on as a substitute and charged down a kick which led to a Welsh try.

 

The season also saw the team make a YouTube video.

 

To commemorate this special season, each squad member was given a photograph of the squad, with the three trophies and the name of each player written in. The awards for the season were as follows:

The Grant Keepin Memorial Award - Callum Lewis.

Clubman of the Year - Owain Reddick.

Coaches Player of the Year – Mitchell Barnard.

Forwards Player of Year – this was awarded to a set of brothers, Ryan & Owen Jenkins.

Backs Player of Year – Jarrod Cushion.

Players’ Player of the Year – Jarrod Cushion.

 

Training for the new season starts in early July. All current and new players are welcome to attend. Details will be made availble on this website shortly.

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