THERE was a huge shock the Castell Howell Sevens at Church Bank, Llandovery when hot favourites Llandovery College fell to Radyr CS, writes Huw S Thomas.

There was better news for the Carmarthenshire schools in the secondary Plate, Bowl and Vase competitions when the respective winners were Strade, Amman Valley CS and Maes Yr Yrfa.

Llandovery College had won the high profile Marches Sevens at Hereford 10 days before - beating Millfield and Filton College among others - but disappointingly failed to use the lion's share of possession in the semi-final against Radyr.

The Cardiff comprehensive played with composure and patience throughout to win all three pool matches in a canter, beat Llandovery College 17-14 in the match of the day and finally swept away the challenge of Pembs College 52-0 in a brilliant demonstration of sevens rugby.

There was encouraging success for local sides in the second tier, third tier and fourth tier competitions.

Amman Valley CS drew with Strade in the pool and showed themselves a competent side in outplaying Tre-gib CS and Cwmcarn HS to win the third tier Bowl.

In the Llandeilo v Ammanford derby, Tre-gib scored a very good try through Dafydd Nicholas to lead 5-0 before the superior speed and strength of the Amman side reeled off nine tries with surprising ease.

Big Gareth Amos smashed his way through for a hat-trick of tries to add to those by Mike Evans (2), James Murray, Steffan Davies, Scott Stephens and Jason Freeman.

In the final, tries from Stephens (2) Amos, Freeman, Doug Jenkins and Murray despatched Cwmcarn HS - coached by Tre-gib CS old boy Graham Thomas - 36-0 in another one-sided game.

The Vase for team finishing fourth in the pool went the way of Maes Yr Yrfa - tries from Sam Davies, Steffan Jones and Dan Wood getting them a 17-14 decision over Llanhari.

Pantycelyn HS did very creditably to beat Maes Yr Yrfa in the pool stage with tries from skipper Michael Legge, wing Tom Boulter and forward Dylan Morgan and they also ran Bro Myrddin close 12-7.

They lost out 21-14 to Cwmcarn HS in the Bowl semi-final - tries by Eifion Jones and Owain Jones were not quite enough.

QEHS struggled for possession and failed to win a game but both Lampeter CS and Tregaron CS won two pool games before going out in the Plate and Bowl semi-finals to Strade 33-21 and Bro Myrddin 19-7 respectively.