Season 2006 - 2007

Wrexham claimed the North Wales Division Two Championship and promotion to Division One with a hard earned victory over Cobra in a top of the table decider at Bryn Estyn Road on Wednesday evening.

They got off to a good start immediately after the kick-off when a Cobra forward came in from the side at a maul and outside-half Jamie Morris kicked a neat penalty. They turned up the pressure with some excellent work by their forwards, for whom prop Daniel Woolfenden was outstanding, and fine breaks by centre Rob Massam.

Wrexham expected to cut loose in the threequarters in the excellent running conditions but the Mid Walians proved to be very resilient, stifled the home side’s passing game and countered by moving the ball at pace. In the tense atmosphere, Morris missed an easy penalty in the 16^th minute and then Rhodri Jones failed with a similar Cobra attempt only minutes later.

The first try arrived in the 25^th minute when Morris switched direction from a maul on the Cobra 22 and sent left wing Morgan Jones racing in for a touchdown near the corner. Morris added the conversion to increase his side’s lead to 10-0 but they had to withstand a Cobra scrum on their line before half-time and were thankful to hooker Huw Evans who won a heel against the head and prevented a likely score.

The visitors upped their tempo after the break and dominated the early stages as Wrexham’s error rate soared and they struggled to find any momentum. Conceding penalties under pressure in their 22, the home side were rocked after only 6 minutes when flanker Dylan Williams crashed over for a try and Jones added a conversion.  

Wrexham held on and worked their way back through the solid work of Man of the Match Woolfenden and his forwards together with some fine defensive work from centres Daniel Roth and Rob Massam. Cobra had a prop sin-binned in the 17^th minute but that spurred them on and they levelled the scores with a penalty by Jones only 5 minutes later.

With alarm bells ringing in their ears and their Championship hopes slipping away, Wrexham responded quickly and won a line-out in the Cobra 22 from a penalty kick. The ball was slipped to Glen Bellamy who had been probing tirelessly all evening and this time he breezed through defenders to score a superb try near the posts.

Morris added the extra points with a good conversion and, with 10 minutes of the match remaining, Wrexham’s young braves showed how far they have progressed this season by closing down the game. They tightened their defence, retained possession and drew the last strength out of Cobra by forcing them to withstand powerful surges from Massam and prop Jake Edwards.    

The champagne flowed afterwards at Bryn Estyn Road where the First team has had a disappointing season but can now look forward to better things next term when they will be reinforced by several members of this year’s successful Youth Team. For next year’s Youth Team there is the prospect of promotion to Division One and local derbies against old rivals Ruthin, Mold and Denbigh.     

Wrexham Youth remain in pole position in North Wales Youth Division Two and need only one more victory to claim the Championship after this hard earned success at third placed Machynlleth. Winger Rob Massam and hooker Huw Evans claimed early tries and outside-half Jamie Morris kicked a conversion before the game boiled over and Evans was red carded for a retaliatory offence.

But the visitors managed to retain their composure in a fiery encounter and went on to clinch the game with two more tries from the in-form Massam and another penalty from Jamie Morris. It was a superb team effort from Wrexham for whom Kieran Morris was outstanding at scrum-half.

Wrexham led twice in this energy sapping North Wales youth Cup semi-final at Caernarfon, but they were eventually beaten by the greater experience of the higher division side who will now meet Nant Conwy in the final in a fortnight’s time.

Number eight Glen Bellamy scored the opening try for the visitors and there was another one by hooker Huw Evans in a well contested first-half which Caernarfon just shaded by 15-10. A try by centre Gwyn Edwards levelled the scores after the break but the home side countered with two more scores before Bellamy touched down again and outside-half Jamie Morris added a late conversion.     

League leaders Wrexham Youth delivered an outstanding team performance in Mid Wales to overcome the strong challenge of title contenders Cobra in the North Wales Division Two Championship. Outside-half Jamie Morris didn’t miss a kick as he claimed 19 of his side’s points with 5 conversions and 3 penalties.

Centre Gwyn Edwards raced in to secure a fine brace of tries with other touchdowns coming from wing Rob Massam, wing Calum Chalenor and flanker Rob Moore. It was the team’s 10^th successive win. Next Saturday, Wrexham face Division One side Caernarfon in a North Wales Youth Cup semi-final match in Caernarfon..

While visitors Mold were consigning Wrexham Firsts to relegation, the Wrexham Youth Team was hitting top form on an adjacent pitch to whitewash visitors Bala by seven tries. This victory completed a double over promotion rivals Bala this season and strengthened Wrexham’s place at the top of the Scarlets North Wales Youth Division Two table.             Hooker Huw Evans capped a typical dynamic performance with a hat-trick of tries while flanker Sam Wright, centre Gwyn Edwards, number eight Glen Bellamy and winger Rob Massam added a touchdown apiece. Outside-half Jamie Morris managed only two conversions in a tricky wind while his brother Kieran Morris made a promising debut as a substitute scrum-half.

Wrexham kept up the pressure on North Wales Youth Division Two leaders Bala with a convincing victory over Llangefni at Bryn Estyn Road on Saturday.
Prop Jake Edwards took over when a powerful surge by number eight Glen Bellamy was held, and charged over the Llangefni line to open the scoring in the 4th minute. Outside-half Jamie Morris added the conversion and Wrexham then built up a 26-0 half-time lead with further scores from full-back Andy Clutton, lock Rhys Jones and a penalty try, Morris kicking 2 more conversions.
Llangefni used a stiff breeze at their backs to counter with a converted try only two minutes after the restart, but Wrexham recovered and replied 6 minutes later with a fine try by hooker Daniel Sissons who was making his debut in the home side. Morris added the extra points before Clutton and Bellamy claimed late tries in between a Llangefni consolation score.  

Wrexham Youth met some stiff resistance from Bangor in their non-league game at Bryn Estyn Road, but they played well in parts and fully deserved their 12^th victory of the season. Wing Rob Massam claimed a hat-trick of tries, lock Rhys Jones added a brace of touchdowns while centre Danny Roth and flanker Rob Moore crossed for a try apiece. Outside-half Jamie Morris (2) and Danny Roth kicked the conversions, while wing Mike Evans-Jones deserved credit for several jinking runs which unlocked the Bangor defence and led to scores.     

Half time score 14-5. Wrexham scorers were Rob Massam (2), Jonathan Davies, Jake Edwards and Rob Moore. Jamie Morris kicked 3 conversions while Rob Massam had another great game as did prop Daniel Woolfenden.

Having disposed of former North Wales Youth Cup winners Mold in the opening round, Wrexham reached the semi-finals of the competition with a sparkling victory over Denbigh at Craig Road. Leading by 8-0 at the break thanks to a try by wing Morgan Jones and a penalty by outside-half Jamie Morris, the visitors stretched their lead with another Morris penalty soon after the restart.                                                                                           Denbigh countered with a converted try but Wrexham soon opened up the gap again with a superb touchdown by wing Rob Massam and a conversion by Morris, Denbigh having the last word with a late unconverted try. The home side and their officials were magnanimous in defeat and wished Wrexham well in their forthcoming semi-final, their opponents and venue to be decided this week.

Wrexham’s Under 19’s showed their seniors how it should be done by demolishing Pwllheli’s up-and-coming players by six tries to one in a North Wales Youth Division Two game. Winger Rob Massam and centre Sam Wright grabbed a brace of tries apiece, full-back Morgan Jones breezed in for another and flanker Rob Moore gave the forwards something to celebrate with a final touchdown. Outside-half Jamie Morris controlled the game well and kicked four conversions while prop Jake Edwards delivered a superb all round performance.     

Wrexham extracted ample revenge for a 7-38 early season defeat at Harlech by outplaying them at Bryn Estyn Road to stay in top place in the North Wales Youth Division Two Championship. Tries came from wingers Rob Massam and Owen Willington and flankers Rob Moore and Sam Wright. There were two conversions from outside-half Jamie Morris and match winning performances from hooker Huw Evans and centre Jonathan Davies.

Wrexham Youth Team were the toast of the town when they defeated many times North Wales Youth Cup winners Mold Youth Team, from a division above them, at Bryn Estyn Road in the first round of this year’s competition.                                                                                                       They rocked the visitors with three tries in the first-half to lead by 19-6 at half-time, their scores coming from tries by wing Rob Massam, full-back Andy Clutton and centre Gwyn Edwards, plus a couple of conversions from outside-half Jamie Morris.                                                                    Mold, who were caught cold and fumbled their best chances, could only manage a brace of penalties until they bucked up in the second-half. They reduced the arrears with two unconverted tries, but Wrexham’s determination earned a penalty, which Morris kicked to keep his side on track.                                                                                                                      The visitors piled on the pressure in the closing stages after Wrexham were reduced to 14 men due to a sin binning. Desperate defence kept Mold out until the final move of the game when they closed the gap to one point with a last minute try in the corner, but the conversion attempt flew wide and Wrexham celebrated a momentous victory.   

The Youth Team won their top of the table match at Newtown by 34-14 to extend their impressive lead in the North Wales Division Two Championship. Rob Massam and Jake Edwards claimed a brace of tries apiece, Morgan Jones added a fifth touchdown and Jamie Morris kicked well to land 3 conversions and a penalty.