The Ospreys scored twice on their travels to North Wales on Sunday with the Under 16s and Under 18s defeating spirited RGC 1404 side’s at Rydal Penrhos School and Parc Eirias respectively.
However, had it not have been for a late concerted push, in the second half, from the U16 Ospreys, the North Walians would have been celebrating a stunning WRU Regional Age Grade Championship victory over one of the pre competition favourites.
The hosts led 22-9 at half time as the Ospreys struggled to contain a side beaten heavily by Blues North in Abercwmboi seven days previous.
Callum Mitchell, Gwilym Parri and Harris Edwards all crossed for tries before the break with full back Osian Jones converting two and adding a penalty. In response, the Ospreys, who came into the game on the back of a resounding 28-15 victory over the Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets in midweek, could muster only three first half penalties from outside half Josh White.
Morgan Harries put further daylight between the sides with a fourth try shortly after the interval and Jones took his season’s tally to 16 with a conversion and penalty.
However, the Ospreys were not to be outdone and once they found a way through a defiant RGC defence, they crossed four times through leading scorer Dafydd Howells (2), Jonathan Lewis and Owen Howe. White added three conversions and a drop goal for good measure as the Ospreys won 40-32.
Looking to bounce back from last weekend’s heavy defeat against the Blues at Merthyr, the RGC 1404 U18s instead found themselves on the wrong end of an 86-7 scoreline.
The young North Walians’ defensive line was breached as early as the second minute when Ospreys’ blindside Emyr Williams crossed for the first of his side’s 13 tries, 9 of which were converted by Sam Davies and Ben Roberts.
Before half time, outside half Davies, who failed to convert his own ninth minute try, had added the extras to tries from Rhys Williams, Sean McRoberts, Matthew Jenkins and Marcus Davies. Adam Wellington crossed for a seventh try that went unconverted.
In the second half, Mold’s Lewis Barker nipped in for a consolation try that Alex Schwarz, also of Mold, improved. Thereafter, it was all one-way traffic as the Ospreys dominated the breakdown and ran in a further six tries.
Man of the match Jenkins added three of his own with Lloyd Wilson, Will Bacup and Ryan Evans completing the rout. Roberts, who took over the kicking duties, duly added four conversions.
