CLWB RYGBI WRECSAM WREXHAM RUGBY CLUB

Bryn Estyn Road, Wrexham, North Wales. LL13 9TY

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Wrexham Youth secured an emphatic 24-0 victory over highflying Llanidloes in a North Wales Youth Cup first round game in Mid Wales. They will meet their local rivals Mold at Wrexham in the quarter-finals of the competition, the date to be agreed by the clubs.

The visitors were in almost complete control in the opening quarter and raced into a 14-0 lead with tries by prop Aaron Hughes and wing Pete Atkin, plus two conversions from full-back Owain Turner. Indiscipline then let the home side back into the game until half-time, but Wrexham picked it up again with tries from prop John Morton and wing Jordan Davies as they dominated the final quarter of the game.

Scrum-half Tom Lea stood out for providing an excellent service to his threequarters, while Luke Hammond came on as a back-row replacement and made a telling contribution by winning a stream of possession in the line-outs.   

A neat drop goal by outside-half Nathan Jones, deep in the final quarter, delivered Wrexham Youth a 17-15 victory over their Mold counterparts and broke their Chester Road hoodoo that had existed for four long decades.

In an absorbing game in which the lead changed hands no less than four times, Wrexham claimed an early lead when scrum-half Tom Lea crossed for a try that was converted by full-back Owain Turner. Mold responded with a penalty and then went into the lead in the 30^th minute when they created a try that they converted to give them a 10-7 half-time lead.

The visitors were fastest out of their blocks after the break and dominated the next 20 minutes with some incisive running. When centre Josh Francis picked up the ball from broken play near the half-way line in the 52^nd minute, he accelerated through the home defence and evaded all cover to score a brilliant try under the posts. Turner again added the extra points with his conversion.

Then Wrexham flanker Gruffudd Jones suffered a dislocated kneecap in a challenge and there was a long delay while an ambulance was summoned to take him to hospital. When play did resume, Mold took the initiative and soon reclaimed the lead at 15-14 with an unconverted try wide out.

Although Wrexham tried hard to regain the lead in the closing minutes, it looked as though it was all over for them until Nathan Jones decided to have a rare drop-kick at goal. To the great delight of his teammates, the kick succeeded and they then managed to hold on for the last few minutes to claim a very rare victory at this venue.

For the winners, number eight Geraint Jones made a massive contribution to their success with his strong presence and Jordan Davies, who started on the wing before moving to centre in the second-half, deserved praise for his ball carrying skills and covering back when needed.

Wrexham Youth bounced back to winning ways and completed their first double of the season when they defeated Colwyn Bay Youth at their Brookfield Drive stronghold.

Although mistakes littered their play, the visitors still managed to score four tries through wing Peter Atkin, centre Jordan Davies, number eight Geraint Jones and replacement number eight Matthew Evans. Full-back Owain Turner kicked three conversions and there was a very competitive performance from prop Aaron Hughes to add to the exciting running skills of try scorer Atkin. 

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Wrexham Seconds ensured that they won’t finish in bottom place in Division Four by hammering the luckless Denbigh Seconds 40-10 at Bryn Estyn Road. Although it was a scrappy game, a good team performance clinched this must-win result for the home side and augers well for next season.

Flanker Keir Harding and centre Scott Davies claimed a brace of tries apiece, lock Ian Sanger and prop Danny Seabrook powered over for a try each and outside-half Dave Thomas kicked 5 conversions. There was also a fine performance from lock Jason Parry while credit went to the versatile Dave Thomas for the way that he has adapted to playing at half-back in recent games.    

This game was a league and Second Team Cup semi-final double header against Denbigh and the result means that Wrexham will now face Ruthin Seconds in the cup final at a time and place to be decided.  

Wrexham Seconds and Llangollen produced a free flowing and high scoring game at Dinas Bran with the home side edging home by 42-30 to complete a Division Four double over their close rivals. Despite their defeat, Wrexham went home with a bonus point for scoring 4 tries.

The visitors were marginally the best side in the first-half but were caught out by a couple of quick tries from their opponents after the break. Wing Scott Davies led the way for Wrexham with an excellent brace of tries, flanker Jason Parry and outside-half Dave Thomas notched one apiece and there were 2 penalties and 2 conversions from Thomas to complete their scoring.

Youth Team captain Christian Chalk gave a Man of the Match performance in the back-row, prop Danny Wolfenden was always prominent in the forward exchanges and wing Peter Atkin was applauded for a particularly good try saving tackle.

Wrexham Seconds, whose jubilation knew no bounds when they won their first league match of the season a fortnight ago, celebrated again when they claimed the full points in beating visitors Llangefni Seconds by 31-0 in a Division Four contest.

Their tries came from flanker Gareth Noon, lock Jason Parry, replacement flanker Wayne Roberts, number eight Iwan Roberts and wing Christian Chalk, while centre Dave Thomas kicked 3 conversions. Prop Danny Seabrook, who was skipper for the day, led from the front and, while a great team performance won the day for Wrexham, Youth Team winger Pete Atkin made a major contribution to their success.  

Danny Hughes and Chris Phillips played half a game each for the depleted visitors and made sure that the game went ahead.  

Wrexham Seconds, without a win or a draw in Division Four this season, finally brought their losing sequence to an end when they outpointed their close rivals Mold Seconds by 10-7 at Bryn Estyn Road. 

 In a compelling game between two well-matched teams that reached half-time scoreless, Mold went ahead with a converted try shortly after the break. The home side, led by Man of the Match prop Danny Seabrook, fought their way back with a try near the corner by flanker Keir Harding, but the angle was too acute for centre Dave Thomas to land a conversion.  

 Youth Team scrum-half Owain Turner, wing Pete Atkins and centre Josh Francis all made a significant contribution on their senior debuts and helped to keep the pressure on the visitors. The winning try came from Wrexham flanker Mike Ward when he squeezed through a gap with 9 minutes to go, Turner missing the difficult conversion before the home side were able to celebrate that long awaited first victory of the season. 

Wrexham Seconds nearly broke their Division Four duck when they dominated visitors Caernarfon Seconds, but they couldn’t score enough points and eventually fell to a 13-15 home defeat.

They had to contend with an unfortunate early injury to their inspirational lock Jason Griffiths who suffered a broken leg in a tackle and had to be hospitalised. Regrouping, however, they scored a try through scrum-half Dan Bowen and a penalty from full-back Sion Lloyd-Jones before Caernarfon overtook them at half-time with a converted try and a penalty.

With props Danny Wolfenden and Danny Hughes in charge in the scrums, Wrexham started well after the break but were stunned by a controversial try from the visitors after everyone but the match official had witnessed a blatant knock-on offence by the scorer. The home side came storming back with a try from lock Brendan O’Malley only to see outside-half Carl Pugh’s conversion attempt thwarted by a crossbar.

Wrexham had to settle for second-best again but could take come comfort from the fact that the losers bonus point that they earned for their close finish had lifted them off the bottom of the table. All of the team wish Jason Griffiths a comfortable and speedy recovery from his broken leg.   

Wrexham Seconds fought tooth and nail to match a good Llangollen side in a Division Four game at Bryn Estyn Road, but they fell away in the second-half and slid to a 15-32 defeat.

Outside-half Dave Thomas kicked Wrexham into an early lead with a well-struck penalty but the visitors countered with a converted try. Thomas then put the home side back in the lead with a try that he converted, only for Llan to reply with another converted try that gave them a 14-10 advantage at the break.

With Mark Gasson performing well at hooker, and Jason Parry foraging on the flank, Wrexham worked hard to get back on terms after the break. Unfortunately, Llangollen took full advantage by scoring a couple of tries when Thomas was sent to the sin-bin for a technical infringement and, although centre Mike McLeod nicked a second try for the home side, the visitors had the last word with a breakaway score.         

Wrexham Seconds played well in parts against Nant Conwy Seconds in a Division Four game at Llanrwst but, with only 15 players in their party, they were hammered by 56-0 after their hosts fielded their full complement of replacements.

Flanker Mark Gasson tackled well on his welcome return to the side, lock Tom Williams stood out in the pack and veteran outside-half Ross Roberts and number eight Mark Lloyd added experience to a hard working Wrexham side.   

Wrexham Seconds are still chasing their first win of the season in Division Four after visitors Flint claimed a 24-7 victory at Bryn Estyn Road. The game was in the balance at 7-12 until the final quarter when the visitors profited from two breakaways to establish a clear margin of victory.

Lock Iwan Roberts rumbled over the Flint line to claim Wrexham’s try and centre Dave Thomas kicked the conversion to level the scores at one stage in the first-half. Full-back Andy Clutton and wing Paul Price impressed for the home side and there were promising debut performances on the wing from Tazz Douglas and replacement Jake Davies.      

First team calls resulted in Wrexham Seconds travelling to Llangefni Seconds with only 14 players and, as the home club didn’t offer a player to balance the numbers, that is how they had to compete throughout their Division Four contest. Llangefni won by 36-8 but the depleted Wrexham pack performed magnificently throughout and earned the respect of their rivals.

The home side led by 10-0 at half-time although 14 man Wrexham had managed to hold them until lock Jason Parry was yellow carded for a technical offence. Tremendous tackling by second-row and Man of the Match Richard Platt and full-back Sion Lloyd-Jones also helped to keep the score down until the end of the half.

In a close opening to the second-half, Lloyd-Jones also grabbed a try and centre Dave Thomas kicked a penalty to reduce the arrears. Having to play one man short, however, eventually took its toll late on and Llangefni capitalised with a late rush of points to clinch a decisive victory. Flanker Gareth Owen put in a fine performance to inspire his outstanding pack.      

Wrexham lent Nant Conwy two players to make up a full fifteen and then suffered the blow of being beaten by them at home in this Division Four contest. Trailing by 0-15 at half-time, Wrexham made a real game of it after the break and reduced the arrears with a thundering try from number eight Iwan Roberts, converted by outside-half Dave Thomas.

The introduction of substitute Mike Ward on the flank made a big difference as did an outstanding performance from Man of the Match Bernard O’Malley. The big lock had a try disallowed before he set up full-back Gareth Bostock for a sparkling try in the corner.

Driven on by other good performances from scrum-half Dan Bowen, flanker Peter Blakemore and lock Jason Parry, Wrexham tried hard to overcome high flying Nant Conwy, but the visitors struck back with two tries and a conversion that sealed the game in their favour.

REPORT

In a keenly contested floodlit veterans match at Cae Ddol, Ruthin survived a battering from Wrexham’s power pack, and two claims for pushover scores, to win the game with a breakaway try in the second-half.               

Although they were beaten 21-12 by visitors Ellesmere Port Seconds, Wrexham Veterans were able to celebrate the launch of a brand new team at Bryn Estyn Road. Some of the players like number eight Tim Davies and lock Stan Edwards had to dust off the cobwebs and search the garage for boots, shorts and socks, but they all gave a good account of themselves.

Wrexham’s tries came from outside-half Richard Lloyd and centre Anthony Lang while Lloyd also managed one conversion. Wing Richard Weston was acclaimed for an outstanding performance against a much younger Wirral based side. Following this successful launch, Team Manager Darrell Hughes is planning more games for the Veterans over the next few months.