Swansea School Boys v Vale

ON Saturday, October 17,Swansea School Boys played their first tie of the DC Thomas Cup against visitors Vale in front of a large crowd at their home ground at Morriston Rugby club.

In the first half Swansea School Boys started strong and dominated possession for the first quarter, keeping Vale firmly pinned back in their own 22.

Swansea's persistence finally paid off when they were rewarded with their first try by Full Back, Tom Ham, who showed some real pace to touch down in the corner.

Corey Evans then converted the try with a difficult kick which sailed through the posts comfortably.

Jake Tucker kept the Swansea School boys 7-0 momentum going by putting Tom Ham through the gap on a beautiful angle to place the ball directly under the sticks. Corey Evans wasted no time in converting the try, taking the School Boys lead to 14 - 0.

Vale Struck back immediately after a long kick off deep into Swansea's half, their full back found a defensive hole and touched down for a try in the corner.

Vale's centre was unlucky to just put the ball wide of the uprights and failed to convert the try. At half time Swansea School Boys led 14-5.

In the 2nd half Vale started strong and applied great pressure on Swansea's defence in their half. But Swansea's forwards showed real guts and determination to turn over the ball and take the pressure to Vales 22, where Tom Ham intercepted a pass to touch down directly under the sticks for his 3rd try of the game. Corey Evans was unlucky not to convert the try as the ball hit the upright.

Vale were not content to let the Swansea School Boys run away with the 19-5 lead and struck back almost immediately with a try by their scrum half, which caught Swansea off guard.

The centre made no mistakes this time and slotted over the conversion to keep the visitors in the game 19-12.

In the final quarter Swansea School Boys found another gear and called upon some hidden reserve in their tanks to dominate their opposition forwards. The continued pressure kept Vale in their own 22 for some time, and while Vale attempted to kick their way out of trouble on several occasions, Swansea full back Danny White was extremely confident under the high ball and relentlessly ran the ball back at them. This endeavour was eventually rewarded when Swansea's forwards got behind the ball and drove over the Vale try line for a fourth try by Jay Earls. Swansea were unfortunate as the conversion went wide of the upright. This was followed by the final whistle. Swansea Schools Boys 24, Vale 12.

Steven Parvin,

Swansea.