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Young Squirrels End Season in Triumph

Rhiwbina Under 13s – 27 – Merthyr Under 13s – 12

Rhiwbina Under 13s put in a consummately professional performance as they won the Blues Plate at Cardiff Arms Park.

From the kick off it was the Squirrels who imposed themselves on the final, putting together many phases of play and starving the opposition of possession. The reward came with a try from Morgan Appleyard as he surged from a breakdown to stretch out an arm and touch down under the posts. Iestyn Hutchings converted to add the 2 points.  There followed an intense half of rugby in which last ditch tackles by George Sheppard and Ryan Clarke kept the Squirrels ahead. A half-time score of 7-0 reflected the tight game.

Rhiwbina opened the second half superbly, applying early pressure which pinned their opponents into the corner. It was Morgan again who emerged from nowhere to shoot down the blind-side and cross the try-line to stretch the Rhiwbina lead and settle some nerves, whilst ramping up the pressure on Merthyr. Crucially the Squirrels scored the next try. More pressure from the forwards led to the ball being released to the backs and swift hands found Dewi Thomas who ran in the try to make the score 17-0.

However Merthyr were far from beaten and they hit back after a lapse in defence allowed them in to reduce the lead. The Squirrels didn’t panic and once more they went through the phases and when the ball emerged Iestyn hit it on the crash. After finding the gap he kept on going all the way to the try line to make the score 22-7. The next try was a long-distance effort by Ryan who received a deft slip pass from Dan Pesticco and sprinted 80 yards to score. Merthyr came back yet again and scored what proved a consolation try with the score at 27-12.

As the final whistle blew the whole squad joined in the celebrations as the Squirrels confirmed their victory and the title of Blues Plate Champions 2019. After finishing runners-up in the Cardiff District Tournament, Bishop Stortford Tournament and Blues Cup Group, it was finally Rhiwbina’s day and they deserved their celebrations. This was not a day of individual stars, and not a team effort or even a match day squad effort. This was the culmination of the efforts of the whole squad over the whole season. Every single member of the Under 13 squad contributed to this victory in every game and training session. A victory well-earned.