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Blues Under 18s Shoot Down Ospreys

28th September 2006


The Blues under 18s were in seventh heaven last night after defeating WRU Regional Championship favourites, the Ospreys, 21-12 at St Helens.

Despite dreadful playing conditions in Swansea, the Blues rose above their hosts to become the first side to defeat the Ospreys on home soil since the inception of the competition two seasons ago.

And the hero of the day was outside half Joe Deacon who bagged 11 points with the boot thanks to a hat trick of penalties and a conversion.

Blues high performance manager Gafyn Cooper said, "We were excellent on a very difficult night for rugby.

"The wind blew and it rained from start to finish, yet we rose above that and came away with a thoroughly deserved win."

Christian Phillips scored a first half try for the Ospreys and converted his own second half score to keep the Ospreys in touch.

However, a first half try from Luke Far and a Deacon penalty edged the Blues in front and after the interval Jake Thomas crossed for his side's second try and Deacon added a couple of penalties and a conversion.

Meanwhile the Scarlets bagged a last gasp try at Stradey Park to snatch a share of the spoils against the Dragons.

Daniel Newton gave the Scarlets a deserved first half lead courtesy of a penalty but after Adam Hughes had crossed for the Dragons shortly after the interval, the Dragons went further ahead courtesy of a pently from their outside half David Langdon.

In the end it was left to Simon Gardner to claim a point - 8-8 - with a try in the closing seconds.

The Scarlets did have an opportunity to bag their first win of the season in injury time, but the Dragons held on and took a deserved point away with them.