The future of Celtic Crusaders Rugby League Club and Wales Rugby League in general is healthier now that at any other time in the sport’s history. The Crusaders are delighted with the news that local Bridgend school, Brynteg High, have reached the national Powergen Champions Schools final for the second year in a row.

Last year, their year seven side won the Cup in front of a full house at the Millennium Stadium, beating Castleford High 40-10. Now, one year older, the lads show no signs of losing their talent after beating Wigan’s St Peters Catholic High School 36-10 in the year eight semi-final on Wednesday to qualify for this year’s final in London at the end of August.

Crusaders’ chief executive Chris O’Callaghan, who is also on the CymruRL board, said: “We’re delighted at Brynteg’s advance to the Final yet again. They are an outstanding school academically and on the sporting field. Their staff have demonstrated how adept and proficient they are as coaches in harnessing the undoubted talent that exists within Bridgend. To get to the final of this competition for the second year in succession is a monumental achievement and one that surely deserves national recognition. Our assistant coach Kevin Ellis helped them to set up the team last year and has been advising them during this campaign. We hope to welcome these lads into the Crusaders academy within the next few years to help them develop their skills even further – they are a credit to their school, to the town of Bridgend and to the sport of rugby league in Wales and I’ve every confidence that they will win the Cup yet again.”

Both teams contributed to a terrific game. The teams were level at half time after Brynteg took an early lead - a great kick to the corner on the last tackle from stand off Olly Olds was pounced on by Adam Wellington on ten minutes. William Thomas backed that up with a 30-metre charge to score the second try which was converted by Olds.

St Peters hit back through a try from full back Tom Halsall which was converted by Chris Kohler and following good pressure, they leveled just before the break with a try form hooker Aaron Martindale.

In the second half, Brynteg took a stranglehold on the game that St Peters were never to recover from as further tries from centre Thomas were to prove too much. He completed his hat-trick with hard running left centre Rhys Evans also going over for a brace of tries. Rhys` twin brother and captain Ben Evans completed the scoring while man of the match Olds converted three of the tries to establish a convincing win to back up the promise that this fine young team showed in August last year at the Millennium Stadium.