Fixture

The Young Firm completed one of their finest seasons with a convincing 29-3 win over Merthyr Youth at Bedlinog in the Heart of Wales district Youth Cup final. It was Mount’s 29^th win in 34 games and brought to an end a marathon-like season in which the whole squad has given their all and played some superb rugby, scoring an incredible total of 1,093 points, which included 178 tries.

The Young Firm were far from complacent and were well up for the challenge throughout the game, competing for every ball and tackling as if their lives depended on it when Merthyr, who showed they were a capable side throughout the game, attacked. Mount went in front after just 5 minutes of play, prop Tom Evans, who had a fine game throughout, picking up and driving on from a ruck on the Merthyr 22 which second row Sean Moore and centre Alex Hughes continued, Hughes giving a well timed pass to ever present back five forward Jarrod Morgan, who finished off a well executed move to crash over near the posts for an unconverted try and a 5-0 lead. Some nice passing by Merthyr set their right wing free but a good tackle by full back Dominic Rowe stopped a scoring opportunity. After a charge down and kick through on half way, Merthyr were awarded a penalty in the Mount 22 which was kicked to make it 5-3. The Young Firm went back on the attack, centre and captain Alex Hughes putting in a strong run to take play up to the Merthyr 22 from where prop Tom Evans picked up, and showed great strength and determination to take several Merthyr forwards with him over the line and under the posts to get Mount’s second try of the night, outside half Liam Jones converting to make it 12-3 after 15 minutes play. Soon after, wing Daniel Cartwright was put away down the touchline to take play into the Merthyr 22 as Mount continued to hold the upper hand. Although two tries down, Merthyr continued probing the Mount defence for gaps but came up against some strong tackling and a set of Mount forwards who, to a man, competed for everything, hooker Liam Attwell and flanker Liam Davies in the forefront of things.  

Early in the second half, Mount centre Hughes broke through in midfield near halfway to set up a good scoring chance but unfortunately lost his footing near the Merthyr 22. The pressure continued though, and shortly afterwards, a chip through by outside half Jones and pressure from the fast-up Mount backs followed by the forwards saw Merthyr fail to gather the ball near their line, second row David Richards eventually claiming the touchdown in the 48^th minute to take the Young Firm 17-3 up. Mount had been full of energy and commitment throughout the game and it continued at a lineout near the Merthyr line, flanker Jordan Burke driving over near the corner to get the Young Firm’s 4^th try of the night to take the lead up to 22-3. A lineout take in the Mount half was driven on text-book like for 50 metres and had Merthyr in trouble in their own 22 but a nudge forward stopped the attack. The Young Firm were not to be denied though and finished the match with the best try of the night, prop Evans starting the 60 metre move off when he latched onto a ball from a lineout near the Mount 10 metre line. Second row Sean Moore - who picked up the Man of the Match award at the after match presentation - and prop Thomas Harper took the ball on from where the ball was quickly transferred to the narrow side by scrum half Cory Roberts and second row Liam Jenkins to wing William Holley who sped away down the touchline to finish off a superb move to score Mount’s 5^th try of the night, outside half Liam Jones bringing down the curtain on a memorable season by converting superbly from the corner to take Mount's lead up to 29-3. The game continued at a fast pace, centre Steve Brittain almost getting through after a kick ahead, and the Young Firm defence showing great pride and determination to keep several Merthyr attacks out. When referee Peter Young, who played a big part in keeping the final a free flowing affair, called time, it was left to centre and captain Alex Hughes to end a memorable “double” winning season for the Young Firm by lifting the Heart of Wales Cup to add to the Blues League Division BE championship won in April. What a way to end a truly magnificent season !