Rydal Vikings 26pts Gogledd Cymru o dan 20 22pts
This was a fixture arranged at short notice and the Gogs were light of many of their players due to the return to University as well as many injuries from playing the day before for their clubs. With only eleven fit players, the under twenties side had to borrow four players from the Vikings but still put up a fighting performance that almost won the game. Things looked bleak at first as the fast flowing Vikings attacked the Gogs line but were held up short and it came as a welcome break when the ball was forced downfield by the outstanding back row of Anthony Tilley, Dale Blackmore and Nathan Roberts. A series of hard won rucks ended when Mike Oakden offloaded to the rampaging Nathan Roberts for him to cross the line and score the opening try. Sean
Griffiths converted. Within minutes more pressure from the regional forwards caused the Vikings to infringe and Griffiths kicke the ensuing penalty to go ten points up. The home side then put together some fine moves and the dangerous inside centre caused havoc in the defence and within a flash two tries had been scored and the Vikings were ahead twelve to ten. Half time saw the home side, who had an army of replacements, bring on fresh legs and it soon looked as though the under twenties would be overrun but it was Lewis Maxwell, having an outstanding game in the line out, made capital of some loose play to score out wide. The three point lead was soon reversed as the Vikings broke through the centre to score another converted try. The see saw
game was now in the balance and man of the match Nathan Roberts picked up from a scrum and bullied his way over to score a try which Griffiths converted. It was then that Jack Powell, a Gogledd Cymru player playing for the Vikings got through to score a fine try which was again converted to give the home side a four point lead. All the final few minutes pressure came from the visitors and with “last play” called they set up a backs movement of their own and Chris Wilkes broke through and looked set for the winning try but the cover came across and just managed to get him into touch yards short. Coach Mike Harper was not despondent at the close as he had seen many good points coming from his depleted side with performance by several players forced to play out of position and giving a good account of themselves. It is hoped that the side will be at full strength on the 30th September for the fixture against newly promoted YorkUniversity at Eirias Park.
