Posted by The first set of WRU Regional Age Grade Championship fixtures came to a conclusion this week, with contrasting fortunes between the four Cardiff Blues sides involved.
In this first age grade season since Clive Jones took over as ‘Director of Development’ there was a new look to the Cardiff Blues participants as the under-18 side was split into a south team, covering Cardiff and the Vale, and a north team, covering Valleys and South Powys, just as they are at under-16 level.
After a 24-24 draw with each other at the Arms Park to kick off proceedings, the two sides struggled with the split sides falling up short against the combined powers that having one team gives Dragons, Ospreys, Scarlets and RGC.
The South 18s particularly struggled with three defeats in their remaining games at home to Ospreys (24-43), and away to Scarlets (34-0) and Dragons (36-5), leaving them second from bottom above only point-less RGC.
A sole win for the North 18s came against the stricken Gogs (7-27), while they fell to defeats home to Dragons (24-25) and away to Ospreys (37-24), meant they finished a place about Cardiff Blues South.
The U18s swing back into action on the 3rd January in the second, and final set of fixtures.
It’s been a different story for the Cardiff Blues under-16 sides though as they sit high and mighty at the top of the table, thanks to some superb results in the first set of fixtures.
The South 16s are the league leaders with a 100% bonus point record from their four games, courtesy of wins over Dragons North (53-5), Scarlets West (7-31), RGC (7-44) and Ospreys East (12-22), with a massive points difference of +119.
Shortly behind them, mainly due to playing a game less, are their North counterparts, who have gone three wins from three against Ospreys West (5-38), Dragons North (54-12) and Scarlets West (42-12).
It’s a slightly later re-start for the U16s, as they pick up the action on the 28th January.
Remember to check back here, at Cardiff Rugby Life, for all the rugby news from around the Cardiff Blues development region, from age grade, to college rugby, and up to the Premiership!
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