Carmarthenshire school team named UK’s best (From South Wales Guardian)

Carmarthenshire school team named UK’s best

12:20pm Friday 22nd June 2012 in Sport

COLEG Sir Gâr have been voted Great Britain’s Schools Team of the Year by the country’s top rugby magazine Rugby World.

In this month’s issue, Rugby World Schools Editor Huw S Thomas was warm in praise of the all round excellence of the Carmarthenshire outfit “The choice of a Team of the Year was the most difficult for years,” said the editor, “ with Edinburgh Academy, St Michael’s Dublin, Llandovery College, Hartpury College, Dulwich College and Coleg Sir Gâr all serious challengers.

“The award goes to Coleg Sir Gâr who lost just two games – away to Millfield when under-strength and by a last-second drop goal to Coleg Gwent when short of their inspirational skipper Sion Bennett, who was away with the senior Wales 7s squad in Scotland.”

Director of Rugby Euros Evans was delighted with the news.

“We try to play open and exciting rugby with everyone involved from one to 15 and the Rugby World accolade is reward for all the efforts put in whether at 15 or seven-aside,”

said Evans, who is also involved with Wales U16s and Llandovery RFC.

Coached by Evans and Lee Tregoning, the college finished top of the Welsh Elite League table and also won the Rosslyn Park Open Sevens for the first time.

Led by an outstanding No 8 in Bennett, they played a free-flowing attractive game where forwards and backs were able to identify and attack space, had real pace on the wings but also a back row of Will Boyde, Bennett and Torin Myhill that dented the firmest of defences.

Wing Jake Randall was a real speedster as was top try scorer Josh Adams. Wales U18 fly half and leading points scorer Jack Maynard was astute and reliable and hooker TomBall a livewire in the loose.

Bennett, Randall and Ball all played a number of games in the Principality Premiership for Carmarthen Quins, Llandovery and Llanelli respectively.

The highlights of the season were the exciting 13-11 win over their main Elite League rivals Coleg Gwent and the 34-33 decision over Wales’ top independent school Llandovery College – conquerors of Millfield and Sedbergh.

The college also triumphed at Rosslyn Park where they became only the fifth Welsh side to win the Open in 73 years.

They followed in the steps of Llanelli GS, Llandovery College, Neath College and St Cyre’s CS by knocking out the holders Filton College 14- 10, 13 times former winners Millfield 32-7 and Whitgift 26- 0 on the way to the Blue Riband title at the world’s greatest schoolboy sevens.