Cardiff under-18 suffered a last gasp heartbreak in a thrilling final day encounter with Dragons at Ystrad Mynach on Wednesday.
Both sides went into the clash with 100 per cent records, setting up a dramatic winner-takes-all scenario to finish the campaign.
The match was forced to relocate from Cardiff Arms Park to Ystrad Mynach due to the adverse weather conditions, but it didn’t stop a lively crowd from gathering at the Centre of Sporting Excellence.
With swirling winds playing a big role, Cardiff went into the interval with a five point advantage, thanks largely to the pack’s work in the set-piece.
A dominant second half performance saw Cardiff claiming the bonus point, with Harri Wilde and Gavin Parry adding to the score-sheet.
However, a determined Dragons side ensure the contest remained alive every time Cardiff threatened to pull away. And with two minutes remaining they completed a dramatic comeback to claim all five points and lift the silverware on the final day.
It was Cardiff who threatened in the opening minutes, with Lucas de la Rua and outside half Wilde demonstrating the danger they posed with ball in hand.
However, a series of penalties soon gave the hosts momentum at Ystrad Mynach, presenting the first real attacking opportunity of the game.
While the Blue and Blacks withstood the initial wave of attack, a third consecutive penalty allowed Sam Berry to open the scoring with a straight-forward attempt from the tee.
From the restart, Sam Harris won the visitors’ first penalty of the evening, allowing Wilde to kick to the corner.
The resulting driving line was claimed by Tom Caple, and in the wet and windy weather the Cardiff pack set up the close-range drive. Once they got going, there was no stopping the pack as de la Rua touched down from the base, taking full advantage of the visitors’ first real attacking opportunity.
Dragons displayed their flair, as the likes of Zak Roberts and Cameron Davies made headway in attack, and a second visit to the 22 saw the hosts exerting enough pressure to win yet another penalty. Berry this time opted for the corner, and the decision was justified as Connor Lewis powered over.
Berry’s extras restored Dragons’ three-point advantage, but once again Cardiff managed to claim the restart in the air. A penalty soon followed for offside, and after Orson James was denied the opportunity to go quick, Wilde once again opted for the corner.
With the hosts anticipating another driving line-out, captain Harry Beddall quickly peeled away and the Hartpury openside had the attacking instinct to dive over and put the Blue and Blacks back ahead.
Wilde’s conversion attempt just drifted wide of the far post, but Cardiff remained two points to the good.
Beddall continued to lead from the front, with exceptional work in the breakdown, while scrum half James’ ability from the boot proved crucial in gaining key field positions as the Blue and Blacks pressed for a third try before the interval.
Wing Zak Wall brought play into the Dragons 22 with a burst down the right hand side, and the pressure was enough to win the penalty. However, a handling error saw Cardiff coming away empty-handed on this occasion.
On the verge of half time, Wilde added a penalty to ensure the visitors had a five-point lead heading into the interval.
The Blue and Blacks picked it up where they left off in the second half, after Dragons were penalised for offside.
A line-out inside the hosts’ 22 saw Gavin Parry darting down the short-side, but the Coleg y Cymoedd hooker had his foot in touch as he stretched for the whitewash.
De la Rua had his explosive carrying ability on show at Ystrad Mynach, halted just short in the hunt for his second, but the resulting pass was knocked on.
However, the pressure finally told as Cardiff penalised a poor Dragons clearance. Jac Davies countered, before de la Rua once again made a dent down the left hand side. The ball was shipped back in field where playmaker Wilde was on hand to weave his way through for Cardiff’s third.
However, despite the momentum, the Dragons quickly reminded the visitors that the contest was not over. Tom Weekley, looking to get on the outside, saw possession dropped, and Will Rees was on hand to pick up the pieces and pin his ears back to run in from 65 meters.
Berry’s stunning conversion narrowed Cardiff’s lead to 22-17, but the visitors refused to let the pendulum swing in Dragons’ favour.
A series of unforced errors once again saw the Blue and Blacks camped in the home 22, and this time it was Gavin Parry who dotted down from the base of a rampant driving maul.
Despite a 10-point lead, Cardiff had to remain focused, and thwarted a couple of dangerous attacking opportunities as the hosts hunted a dramatic comeback.
With six minutes remaining, Dragons pulled one back to set-up a dramatic finale, as replacement hooker Aneurin Jenkins burrowed over.
And the comeback was completed as a combination of ill-discipline and the strength of the home pack once again caused problems for the visitors. A series of penalties saw the referee awarding Dragons a penalty try, giving them a two-point lead with as many minutes remaining.
Despite the dramatic conclusion, with Dragons lifting the Championship trophy, it’s been a positive campaign for the Blue and Blacks, who have remained focused on the overall development of the group, as attention now turns to national selection for under-18 rugby.