photo by Ian Lovell

The future of Welsh Rugby League looks secure after a young Welsh Select XIII beat the Royal Navy 54-30. Many of the Welsh side are already on the Crusaders books with the rest being picked from the cream of the Co-operative Welsh Conference Premier.

Owen Lewis ran in after only a minute to give the Welsh side the lead. Lee Williams converted.

Williams added a second try straight from kick off, converting it himself and the Welsh side were 12-0 up in under five minutes.

Williams created the third try on eight minutes setting up David James to score in the corner.

It was almost a fourth on ten minutes but winger Trevor James knocked on after an excellent passing move involving Lewis, James Thatcher, David James and Ross Olney.

The Royal Navy hit back on 16 minutes after their pressure was reward by a try. Tom McKenna went in to the left of the sticks and Scott Partis converted.

They scored again on 20 minutes through Fijian Bee Buinemassi with Partis converting again.

The Welsh regained their advantage on the half hour when Tom Burnell forced his way over and Williams converted but Wales A international Jim Barnes ran in for another Navy try as soon as they regained possession.

However the Welsh went into half-time with a ten-point lead after a James Thatcher try converted again by Williams.

The Welsh extended their lead five minutes into the second half when Williams pounced on a Lewis grubber and Lee Jones barged his way through ten minutes later for further Welsh try with Williams converting.

Greg Callow ran 50 metres for another try straight from kick-off that Williams easily converted but Danny Johnson got a try back for the Navy on the hour with Cartis keeping up his 100% kicking record.

Demons stalwart Ross Olney scored the next Welsh try with Williams’ kick bringing up the 50-point mark with a Lee Williams try making it 54-24.

But the Navy rounded off the scoring with the last play of the match with Mark Warren scoring the try and Cartis converting.

WELSH SELECT XIII
1. Lee Williams (Celtic Crusaders/Valley Cougars)
2. Trevor James (Blackwood Bulldogs)
3. Greg Callow (Newport Titans)
4. Gareth Murphy (West Wales Sharks)
5. Elliot Kear (Cardiff Demons)
6. Owen Lewis (Celtic Crusaders/Valley Cougars)
7. James Thatcher (Cardiff Demons)
8. Lee Jones (Celtic Crusaders)
9. Tom Burnell (Celtic Crusaders/Cardiff Demons)
10. Ross Olney (Cardiff Demons)
11. Rhys Andrews (NPT Steelers)
12. Pete Dalle Cort (unattached)
13. Chris Vitalini (Cardiff Demons/ Newport Titans)

Subs
14. Chris Holcombe (Cardiff Demons)
15. Dan Tucker (Blackwood Bulldogs)
16. David James (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
17. Nicky Tucker (Blackwood Bulldogs)

Tries: Lewis (1), Williams (4, 45, 73), D.James (8), Burnell (30), Thatcher (35), Jones (52), Callow (55), Olney (64)
Goals: Williams 7/10

ROYAL NAVY
1. Kev Botwood
2. Pete Howe
3. Bee Buinemassi
4. Jim Barnes
5. Tyler Helme
6. Steve Lockton (captain)
7. Scott Partis
8. Jamie Goss
9. Danny Johnson
10. Chris Thompson
11. Lee Rositter
12. Gareth Sharpe
13. Tom McKenna

Subs:
15. Jonathon Platt
16. Barry Sloan
17. Scott Mills
18. Adam Drury
19. Mark Warren

Tries: McKenna (16), Buinemassi (20), Barnes (33), Johnson (60), Warren (80)Goals: Partis 5/5

Referee: Ritchie Rees
Half-time: 28-18

article by Ian Golden
2 June 2007