The d4T Preseli Babas rounded off a summer of high quality rugby by reaching finals in both the Sundog 7s Festival and the Heart of Wales 7s.

Firstly, the Babas took took two sides to Luctonians RFC for the Sundogs event, entering both the Elite and Open competitions.

Unfortunately late drop outs meant neither team was at full strength, and the development side started off with a 32-0 defeat against Red Roosters, but bounced back with a 28-21 win over Hereford RFC in which Ben White and Tomos George impressed.

However, despite a brave showing against The Stunts, the Babas finished with six men after skipper James Vechio was yellow carded, and it took its toll as a last minute try saw them eliminated in the group stages.

In the Elite event, the Babas got a great start by beating the Honey Badgers 17-12, and backed that up by beating BLK Hurricanes, a team who play on the iPro Super Series, 27-17.

A sin-bin to Amir Jiwa Walji didn’t help their cause in game three as they went down 32-12 against the Gogerddan Raiders, but the Babas hit top form against Bucknall Barbarians, winning 38-17 with the creativity of Gareth Owens, Iago Davies and Connor Lloyd allowing the likes of Alun Evans, Geraint Llewelyn and Barnie Moul to cut loose.

It meant they needs a convincing win over the Ponty Butchers to make the final on points difference – but despite losing their last two games against their rivals, the Babas produced an outstanding effort to win 40-19, with the likes of Owens and Jacob Lewis superb in defence and attack.

This set up a final with Gogerddan Raiders and it proved a tense affair, with a brief mix up with the officials leaving the Babas thinking they had won it after a last minute try from Jiwa Walji -but after a points recount, the Raiders were adjudged narrow winners.

Babas Player of the Tournament was Gareth Owens, and top try scorer was Jiwa Walji with six.

Open Squad: James Vechio (c); Tomos George; Shaun O'Rourke*; Geraint Williams; Dan Evans; Osian Edwards; Ben Barnett; Josh Bridson; Dan Jenkins; Emyr Davies; Ben White; Rhodri Davies*; Dan Jones .

Elite Squad: Laurence Headlam; Gareth Owens; Aled Rees; Rhys Jones; Geraint Llewelyn; Amir Jiwa Walji (c); Alun Evans; Jacob Lewis; Barnie Moul; Connor Lloyd*; Iago Davies*

*Denotes debutant 

Next up was the Heart of Wales 7's where again, sides were entered in the Elite and Open competition.

For the Development side in the Open competition, things started badly with transport issues meaning some players didn’t make kick off and some of the Elite squad were forced to double up. They duly lost their opener 24-12 to a well drilled Cubs side, but did bounce back with a 24-10 victory over Mayans and a 40-17 hammering of Hirus 7s – putting the side into the semi finals.

Despite a courageous effort with only seven players available, the side bowed out with a 36-12 loss but there was still reason to celebrate, with two founder members, Sion Hughes and Dylan Ladd, reaching the milestone of ten tournaments.

The Elite team then got off to a great start with a 26-24 win against the Red Panda 7's, but then came a game to forget with a heavy defeat against Ponty Butchers.

Next up came the Carmarthen Warriors, and solid defence from the likes of Gareth Owens and debutant Josh Austin was a factor while speedster Alun Evans bagged a couple of tries. Aled Rees also showed his aerial dominance from the re-starts as the Babas ran out 40-12 winners.

This set up a semi final with The Wailers, a team who have competed annually on the Super Series since it formed.

The Babas put in a mammoth shift in defence with the likes of Owens and Rhys Jones and debutant Tom Dew at the heart of things.

Dan Evans also scored a scintillating team try but it was the boot where he became the hero – showing real nerve to slot a last gasp conversion and seal a 24-22 success.

It meant a second Elite final in two weeks and another rematch with Ponty butchers. The Babas led through a great early try from debutant Rhys Balmont but the Butchers responded to lead 10-7 early in the second half.

A long range effort from Jiwa Walji restored the Babas leas, but despite being camped in their 22 for large parts of the second half – the Butchers showed real resilience and scored two late tries at the death to seal a 22-12 win.

The Babas’ top try scorer and player of the tournament on the day was winger Alun Evans.

It concluded a successful summer for the squad, and plans are already in place for a number of 2019 competitions, including a possible trip abroad.

Squad (Open and Elite): Tomos George; Daniel Jenkins; Josh Bridson; Dafydd Rotie; Sion Hughes; Dylan Ladd; Osian Edwards; Josh Austin*; Gareth Owens (Co - Capt); Aled Rees; Rhys Jones; Ben White; Tom Dew*; Alun Evans; Jacob Lewis; Laurence Headlam; Rhys Balmont*; Geraint Llewelyn; Dan Evans; Amir Jiwa Walji (Co - Capt).