PUPILS at a Powys secondary school are preparing for a brush with stardom as they get closer to gracing the home of Welsh rugby.
Pupils from Ysgol Calon Cymru will be stepping out onto the turf at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff next week, where they will take on Swansea’s Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr in the final of the Welsh Schools Rugby Union Vase.
The squad – made up of players from both of Calon Cymru’s campuses in Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells – will be chomping at the bit for the showdown, taking place next Thursday, March 2, after the game was postponed prior to Christmas due to stadium maintenance.
Calon Cymru, captained by Louis Davies, defeated Ysgol Garth Olwg, from Church Village, Pontypridd, 19-12 in November to reach the final in Cardiff.
Coached by James Reynolds and Wayne Morris, the boys are one step from greatness, as a win would not only mean silverware but they would also complete an unbeaten season.
The semi-final, played in torrential rain and lit up by thunder and lightening in Llandrindod, ebbed and flowed throughout, with Calon Cymru taking the early initiative with a try from Iwan Holder, which went unconverted.
Garth Olwg fought back with a try of their own, again going unconverted, to leave the game poised at 5-5.
Both teams enjoyed periods of pressure and possession, but it was Calon Cymru who took the initiative with a further try for mesmeric centre Holder, this time Ciaran Price slotted the conversion to send the boys in red into half-time 12-5 ahead.
An error strewn start to the second half saw the game descend into a scrappy affair but the Powys school’s pressure eventually paid when their opponents were reduced to 14 men following a tip tackle. Winger Deri Mason eventually profited, touching down between the posts, with Price’s conversion making it 19-5.
The hosts had to battle late on to hold onto their lead as they were then reduced to 13 players following more ill-discipline, with players sent to the sin bin for a late tackle and then a high tackle.
A late Garth Olwg try frayed some nerves but Calon Cymru held on for a momentous victory.
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Geraint Pritchard, head of PE at Calon Cymru, said: “This year is the first time that Ysgol Calon Cymru has entered the WSRU league system at U18 level.
“The team has performed to a high standard all season, remaining unbeaten to date.
“The team, the school and the community look forward to the final at the Principality Stadium in two weeks' time.”
The WSRU competitions, also including the cup, plate and bowl, and entitled the Road to the Principality as the final of each competition is being held at the famous Cardiff stadium, saw Calon Cymru defeat Powys rivals Crickhowell 43-5 in the opening knockout round, before a 55-26 quarter-final triumph over Caerphilly’s St Cenydd.
Their impressive cup run has followed on from an unbeaten East Wales North League campaign, where the school beat Ysgol Bryncelynnog 19-0, Crickhowell 43-12, Rhydywaun 12-5 and Garth Olwg 22-5 to finish with a 100 per cent record.
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