By Zippy
August 7 2006

A review of the action in this years Cwmtawe 7s tournament. Perfect weather conditions ensured that a great afternoon was had by all in what was an truly international affair.

Final:

Slashers RFC 28 - 24 Samurai 7

Plate:

Viator Barbarians beat Matt Hampson Trust Oilers

Shield:

Cwmllynfell 24 -15 Ystradgynlais

By Tony Poole - South Wales Evening Post

Summertime and the living is supposedly easy, but it was far from that for the players during hot conditions at the 24th Cwmtawe Sevens in Pontardawe. Chester-based Slashers RFC made it a memorable first visit to the tournament in taking the main competition, and with it a handsome purse of £5,000.

The Fijians leaned on experience during the final to come from 19-7 down at the break to pip the Welsh Sevens Development squad team Samurai 28-24.

Playmaker Ratu Savenaca Naulivon turned the tide in crossing for a hat-trick of tries while Tevita Raratabu got their fourth.

Naulivon also nailed all four conversions, but it had looked all so different when Aberavon wing Richard Carter got the young Welsh side off to a flying start.

Samurai gradually applied pressure, and they were rewarded on the back of a two-try blast from Adam Whitney, both goaled by Bridgend colleague Roger Davies.

But late on Slashers led 28-19, and by the time Neath full-back Aaron Bramwell dabbed down the game was all up for Colin Hillman's side.

Bramwell swapped camps from Neath to Samurai at the request of Wales Sevens coach David Rees, who was looking to future prospects on the World Sevens stage.

Good galleries once more soaked up the carnival atmosphere, with a Who's Who of the Welsh game in attendance - including WRU chief executive Steve Lewis.

Play unfolded on four pitches with the early surprise caused by the demise of Swansea.

They looked good when leading 12-0 against Viator Barbarians - ex-Newport centre Richard Payne and wing Leigh Bevan touching down - but that was as good as it got for the Whites.

Three second-half tries sent Swansea crashing to a 19-12 defeat, and they could manage a 19 all draw with Kooga Wailers.

That led to the Whites even missing out on the Plate while Premiership colleagues Llanelli and Neath marched into the main quarter-finals.

Llanelli showed good form in beating North of England side RFA Pacific Blues - Alec Jenkins and Craig Richards collecting two tries apiece - and they went on to account for Coleg Sir G??r Old Boys, 28-0.

Neath flattered only to deceive against Amman United Vikings, leading at the break through tries by Aaron Bramwell (two) and scrum-half Gareth James.

They eventually won 19-10, but turned on the style to brush aside Leicester Academy's Matt Hampson Trust Oilers, 52-5.

In one of the best showings of the day, Bramwell - last year's most promising player of the tournament - crossed for four sizzling tries.

The Young Ospreys went through to the quarter-finals despite Ospreys and Wales fly-half Matthew Jones suffering a knee injury against Mumbles after only two minutes.

That's how long his tournament lasted but the Ospreys, well led by Richie Pugh, won the day 22-0.

A hat-trick of tries from Aberavon wing Mark Harvey then set up a 15-5 victory for the Ospreys over Pioneers.

Neath went on to spurn chances against holders Welsh Wizards, and bowed out in the quarter-finals 19-12.

Although wing Kevin James and outstanding hooker Gerwyn Price both touched down, the Blacks were left to reflect on what might have been.

The Young Ospreys were also eliminated at this stage, going out 17-15 against eventually winners Slashers RFC.

Leigh Bevan, Patrick Horgan and Marc Breeze all touched down for the Ospreys, who were undone by a conversion.

However, Llanelli beat Kooga Wailers 21-7 to set up a semi-final showdown with ever-improving Samurai.

And in one of the best matches of the tournament, the young Welsh side came late to win 27-14.

Tries from captain Ioan Cunningham, and fly-half Rhys Priestland placed Llanelli in the driving seat.

Samurai kept in touch thanks to touchdowns from Harry Trelawny (Bedwas) and James Harris (Newport), and went on to last the pace better.

Llanelli failed to capitalise on good openings from Priestland and scrum-half Liam Davies, and conceded late tries to Richard Carter, Gareth Williams (Carmarthen Quins) and Harris.

There was little Welsh interest in the Plate competition, won by Spanish side Viator Barbarians on the strength of sound technique.

But the first staging of the Shield proved a vibrant affair with Cwmllynfell defeating Ystradgynlais, 24-15, in the final.

You feared for Ystradgynlais when they went 19-0 down after just seven minutes, but they rallied strongly.

Things looked all too easy for Mike Lewis's side when Craig Jones, Kevin Jones and Peter Thomas all crossed the whitewash. But a try just before the break from Ystrad's outstanding player, Ricky Williams, gave them something to hang their hat on.

On the resumption, Rod Jones got the fourth Cwmllynfell try, making it 24-5, but never-say-die Ystrad hit back with well-worked tries from Nicky Stephens and Hywel Evans.

A male streaker then left Ystrad cold, and they failed to make any further headway.

During the presentation ceremony, Slashers star Naulivon was crowned player-of-the-tournament, while Richard Jones, who showed up well for Plate runners-up Matt Hampson Trust Oilers, scooped the most promising player accolade.

Zippy Comments:

- Saw practically whole Ospreys squad there, some enjoying themselves a little too much maybe!!
- Mathew Jones picked up an injury, didn't look too bad
- Don't like the way 7s has gone corporate with teams entered from Kooga, Canterbury etc
- Shame it can't be like the Middlesex 7s with teams from all the Prem sides and academy regional sides, would be much more of an occassion.