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Colwyn Bay
Rugby Club
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North Wales Boys Play for a European Combined Team in Belgrade, Serbia. U16`s European Championships 8 boys from North wales travelled out to Belgrade recently to join forces with players from Ireland, Serbia and the Czech Republic to make up a team called the Euro Celts. The idea behind this was to give the boys from north wales and other countries an opportunity to play in an international tournament as Wales could not send a team. This came after the boys had successfully been selected to play for wales in two internationals over the easter period against England and France with two local boys Ian Marshall ( Colwyn Bay RFC) and Tom Beaumont ( Rhyl RFC) both gaining international caps. The other teams competing in the tournament where England, Serbia and Russia in group one, whilst group 2 consisted of the Celts, Scotland and pre tournament favourites France. The Euro celts where seeded 6th in the competition. After arriving late in the evening the boys where up early the next morning for a training session and to meet there fellow players some of which where not as experienced as the boys from North Wales, and after gelling very well they then faced there first opposition of the competition against Scotland on a very warm afternoon. In what was a good game but errors made the job in hand a little more difficult for the celts they managed to come away with a victory, Ian Marshall and Tom Beuamont both scoring a try each with the man of the match award going to Tom Beaumont.
Pool B - Euro Celts
26-14 Scotland A day of rest then seen the celts face a formidable French team who where a very well drilled and experienced. In what was a brutal game which the French captain was sent off for a high tackle some of the north wales players sustained injuries which resulted in a very inexperienced side left on the pitch which battled well but could not contain the French and they ran out winners.
Pool B - France
40-6 Euro Celts The boys then had a few days rest which was welcomed by all as the final game of the group saw france beat Scotland to top the group in first place, whilst the celts gained second place which gave them a 3rd 4th place play off game against the hosts Serbia. The finals day was an exciting one especially for the Serbian part of the Celts team to be playing against there home nation, with the home crowd getting voiceferous it made for a great atmosphere. The celts managed to shake off a few injuries to many of the players with only one missing out on medical advice. The confidence was high and it showed on the pitch with a good deal of fantastic ball handling skills shown not just from the welsh but some of the newer players too, in an enthralling game which saw three tries from the celts ruled out by the reffeeres they managed to hold on to a lead built up early in the game to win 22-20, which did the nerves of all concerned no good. Ian marshall kicking a conversion.
3rd
place playoff: This gave them third place, which was very well deserved after being seeded 6th and having to play with not only people who they did not meet until the morning of the first game but also could not speak the same language shows great testament to all the boys concerned.
Final
standings: Three of the welsh contingent where named in the dream team, which is a team made up from the best players during the competition with Tom Beaumont gaining a shirt and Ian Marshall narrowly missing out. The future of rugby League in North Wales is now a bright one, Russia have invited a team of u14`s to visit next easter for a nines tournament, South Wales will be bringing an u16`s team to the north in a trail game again to select the national side from and with the nearest professional club being less then an hour and a half away to most areas with plenty of club sides, then there are plenty of possible games that could be played. If you are interested in giving Rugby League a TRY!! You are aged 13 or over then the next training session will be at Colwyn bay Rugby Club on Wed`s 18th July at 7pm. For more information you can contact Ray Caldwell on 07999371966.
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