Haverfordwest County Football Academy players born in 1999 nominated for the Cymru Cup competition at Dragon Park, Newport, gave good performances for South Wales Academies in matches played over two days in persistent heavy rain starting on Bank Holiday Monday.

This competition is a pathway for early identification for the Wales National Team with each of the four competing teams using the 4-3-3 system of play as early learning.

Garin Gardner (centre-back) captained South Academies in the first match against the regional squad and played right through all the matches.

Max Brindley (midfield) who played two full matches impressed with creative play and good all-round vision and mobility.

Curtis Hicks (defender) adapted well to the higher pace of play and showed great passion in the final game when the South beat the North 5-3 after being 3-2 down with 10 minutes left.

Morgan Thomas (forward) showed versatility and energy in two different positions for the south before missing the last match through injury.

Strongest opposition was from the regional national development squad in which Pembrokeshire-based Liam Cullen (Swansea City) was outstanding.

All four South Academy players impressed the management team of Dave Murphy (Monmouth Town) and Bernard Steer (Haverfordwest County) both for their playing ability and the way they conducted themselves in the hotel, discipline, training, travelling and match environment demanded of international players.