Whitland U18s 8 pts. Haverfordwest U18s 3
After what can only be described as a nail-biter of a game, the young Borderers came out on top to clinch the Griffiths Cup last week. Unbeaten in the county this season, this saw them add the trophy to the Pembrokeshire League and Youth Cup which they had already won, as well as the Floodlit Sevens title at Pembroke the previous Friday. In fact, the only game they lost all year was the semi-final of the Webb Ellis Welsh Youth Cup to Merthyr, who eventually went on to win it. So what a season for the Whitland youngsters. They played over 30 matches, scoring some 865 points and only conceding 185 against. And it was their awesome defence which took them to glory at Neyland on Friday. Haverfordwest took an early lead when outside-half Mike Jones kicked a penalty. Nevertheless, Whitland kept the pressure on and after winger Darren Sullivan was yellow-carded for a high tackle, they kicked to the corner for the lineout. This was superbly taken by second row Carl Smith and the pack drove to the line where number eight Mike Jones bagged the touchdown. James Stephenson failed with the conversion attempt, but was successful five minutes later when he slotted a penalty. After that, Whitland had to defend with 14 men when flanker Danny Evans was yellow-carded for slowing the ball down, leaving referee Adrian Slate, who controlled the game well, no alternative but to send him to the sidelines for the last few minutes of the half. Despite this setback, they managed to hold Haverfordwest at bay, leaving the half-time score eight points to three in Whitland's favour. No further points were added in the second half, but the game was on a knife edge, with both sides defending well and also attacking from all points of the field, so the neutrals were entertained to a superb game of rugby, but for both sets of supporters, it was a nail-biter. Up front there was great work from the front five, while the two flankers, Danny Evans and James Davies, were outstanding, covering every blade of grass. Behind them, the two centres, James Stephenson and skipper Alex Pickersgill, tackled everything that came their way, as did fullback Daniel Newton, whose flair in counter-attacking was out of this world. But the man-of-the-match accolade had to go to the captain, Alex Pickersgill, for his outstanding leadership and all-round play, and to him and his squad, take a bow. What a team, what a season - well done lads!