WRU Women’s Super Cup final:

Skewen Ladies 51-8 Whitland Ladies

Whitland Ladies’ brilliant run in the Super Cup ultimately ended in disappointment yesterday when they were well beaten by Skewen in torrential conditions at Bedwas RFC.

The Neath based side were rampant as they opened up a 29-0 half time lead, and although The Borderettes rallied briefly after the break with a Jodie Evans penalty and try from full back Karen Mayze – the reigning champions maintained their intensity to add 22 points in the final quarter.

It was Whitland who mounted the first real attack when No 8 Natalie Walsh broke from deep but was hauled down by the cover defence – but just five minutes in, the Pembrokeshire side were trailing as Skewen winger Rosie Fletcher sped through a gap before giving the scoring pass to full back Adi Tavener.

Outside half Bethan Preece was off target with the conversion and then also pulled a penalty attempt narrowly wide – but the No 10 did add three points when opposite number Alice James was penalised for not rolling away in front of her own posts.

The Skewen pressure continued and hooker Carys Phillips buried over for the second try from close range following a quickly taken tap penalty.

Preece converted.

And then came a hammer blow to The Borderettes as they pressed to get back into it, but when the ball went loose in midfield, Skewen left winger Courtney Howe gathered possession before speeding 60 metres to the posts.

Again Preece converted – and then added the extras to her side’s fourth try when centre Kerin Lake went over following another searing break from Howe.

As the rain poured down and the game all but gone at 29-0, Whitland did come out for the second half with renewed purpose, and Walsh linked with flanker Angharad Williams, and the latter surged down the left wing but her inside pass failed to go to hand.

Evans then narrowly failed to gather an interception in midfield - but after scrum half Emma Summons had instigated a number of drives from her pack towards the try line, the centre did put her side on the board with a 20 metre penalty.

But Skewen upped the intensity again and Preece added another three points of her own, before slotting the extras after Howe picked up her second try following a break from Taverner.

Hooker Phillips then also crossed again after good work from Skewen No 8 and skipper Siwan Lillicrap, Preece again converting – before The Borderettes grabbed their solitary try.

A chip ahead from full back Mayze caused problems in the Skewen defence, with Lillicrap perhaps harshly yellow carded after she was penalised at the subsequent breakdown.

Moments later, Whitland winger Mari Griffiths was held up over the line, but from the resultant five metre scrum, Walsh picked up and set up Mayze, who drove over from close range.

But fittingly, it was the Neath side who had the final word when Preece secured a 21 point haul with an interception try from half way.

Afterwards, Whitland head coach Dan Mason said his side had to learn from the occasion:

“It didn’t happen for us today and now we have to learn from it and move on.

“They are a strong side with a lot of international players and they were at their best today. We didn’t get anything going until it was too late.

“But it’s a great achievement to have made the final and we will get our heads up and learn from the experience.”

Whitland Ladies: Karen Mayze, Mari Griffiths, Jennie Collins, Jodie Evans, Heather Rees, Alice James (captain), Emma Summons, Sara M Davies, Rachael Norris, Sara H Davies, Rebecca Norris, Elin Hywel, Angharad Williams, Delyth Davies, Natalie Walsh.

Replacements: Natasha Francis, Ali Griffiths, Hannah Samson, Alex Coles.

Skewen Ladies: Adi Taverner, Courtney Howe, Alecs Donovan, Kerin Lake, Rosie Fletcher, Bethan Preece, Kiera Bevan, Alicia Demery, Carys Phillips, Amy Evans, Kelly Tombs, Natalie Watkins, Robyn Lock, Kathryn Joseph, Siwan Lillicrap (captain).

Replacements: Danielle Hand, Catrin Stoneman, Lucy Jones, Charlotte Peters, Shona Powell-Hughes, Rhian Perry, Zarrissa Muldoon, Megan Griffiths.

Referee: Alex Yaw.

Assistants: Ben Breakspear and Khalid Falven.

WRU Women’s Under 18s Super Cup final:

Whitland Girls 18s 10-7 Cardiff Harlequins 18s

Despite the senior side missing out, there was still reason to celebrate for the club as the under 18s held on for a tense win over Cardiff Harlequins.

The Young Borderettes led 10-0 at half time, as flanker Lleucu George kick an early penalty, and then converted a superb try from centre Libby Jones, who broke through a gap in midfield and finished well from 30 metres out.

But again in torrential conditions, The Quins fought back after the break as prop Georgia Fricker charged over from close range for a converted try.

George was wide with a penalty attempt late on, but The Young Borderettes then defended fiercely in the final moments to seal cup glory.

Whitland Girls 18s: Megan Davies, Ella Marchant, Marged Williams, Libby Jones, Natalie Williams, Sioned Phillips, Kelsey Haycocks, Nicole Davies, Lauren Morgan, Billie-Joe Alexander, Sam Burnell, Millie Harry, Lleucu George, Nia Walters, Amy Morgan.

Replacements: Ffion Howells, Kylie Archer.

More reaction and pictures to come on www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/sport and in this week’s Western Telegraph.