A GROUP of talented young rugby players continued their exceptional season with qualification to a national tournament.

Rydal Penrhos’ U11 squad turned in a fantastic performance at the Urdd Conwy Regional Rugby Championships earlier this month, which further enhanced their claims to be one of the best Year 6 sides to come from the Prep School in recent memory.

They began the tournament with a resounding 4-0 success over Ysgol Eglwysbach, which featured a standout individual efforts from the likes of Jonah Craddock, Harry Fardoe, Harley Doyle and Max Cowen-Wright.

This was swiftly followed by a 3-1 defeat to Ysgol Bro Gwydir, and Rydal Penrhos closed out the group stages with another 4-0 win thanks to outstanding contributions from Year 5 pupil Cieran Milligan, Ethan Akroyd, Telor Jones and Matthew Johnson.

A semi-final encounter with Ysgol Llandrillo-yn-Rhos, and despite falling behind early on the group dusted themselves off and held their nerve to book their place in the final after a 4-1 victory.

Ysgol Bro Gwydir, who had earlier beaten them in the group stages, stood between them and the title, and the side skippered superbly by Liam Farrell avenged their only loss of the competition to claim the overall crown in style with a 5-1 win.

The U11 side will now head to Aberystwyth for the Urdd National Championships later this year.

Head of Boys’ Games Jamie McLeod, said: “This was another outstanding effort from the group, who continue to aide each other with exceptional teamwork which is something we have aimed to install in them from a very early age.

“They deserve an enormous amount of credit for the way they have applied themselves throughout the year and hopefully this can bring even more accolades their way at the nationals.”