South Powys 10 Pontypridd 34

Saturday 6th March
PSRU REACH SEMI-FINALS OF THE DC THOMAS PLATE COMPETITION

PSRU U/11's travelled to Brecon to take on South Powys in the Quarter Final of the DC Thomas Plate Competition.
Despite enjoying most of the early territory and possession we found ourselves 5-0 and then 10-7 down to a courageous South Powys team which had efficiently defended our attempted wide attacks and utilised their pace behind the scrum to score two break-away tries.
A change of attacking options coupled with an improved blitz defence proved to be the game winning tactics. Direct gain line breaking runs from Jac Smith, Steele Quirke and Rhodri Smith in midfield and sniping runs from scrum half Carl Blacker opened up the South Powys defence. Winger Ben Evans, scored one of our six tries, the first two of which were converted by Dewi Cross.
Whilst our backs provided the initial line breaks it was the play of the forwards led by captain Gruffydd Lloyd that clinched the tie. The whole pack can be commended for their support play, commitment and persistence. Three tries from Alun Lawrence, one from Gruff and a final try from Keillan Mahoney sealed the victory for Pontypridd.
South Powys will look forward with optimism to the Bowl Competition whilst Pontypridd await the winners of the Dinefwr/Cynon Valley tie in the semi-finals.
TEAM; 1 Callum Hall (Jack Archer) 2 Liam Beere (Liam Dando) 3 Jay Jones 4 Alun Lawrence 5 Matthew Wilmot 6 Iwan Cavil (Keillan Mahoney) 7 Dafydd Smith (Liam Malkin) 8 Gruffydd Lloyd 9 Carl Blacker 10 Rhodri Smith 11 George Harris 12 Jac Smith 13 Dewi Cross 14 Ben Evans (Dylan Hughes) 15 Steele Quirke
SCORERS Alun Lawrence 3 tries, Grufydd Lloyd, Ben Evans, Keillan Mahoney 1 try, Dewi Cross 2 conversions.