Coleg Menai football stars help Wales to Roma Caput Mundi triumph
Osian Evans, Morgan Davies and Harry Hughes were in the Welsh Schools team which beat England in the final of the tournament in Italy
Three Coleg Menai students helped Welsh Schools under-18s win the Roma Caput Mundi tournament for the first time.
Osian Evans, Morgan Davies and Harry Hughes were key members of the Wales team which beat England Colleges in the final of the invitational tournament on St David’s Day.
Striker Osian was named player of the tournament after scoring three goals on the way to Wales’ triumph.
The Roma Caput Mundi tournament has been running since 2005, and this was the ninth time a Welsh Schools team had entered.
The boys beat Canada 4-2 in their opening group game, with Osian on the scoresheet. They then lost 2-1 to San Marino, but qualified for the final after beating Denmark 3-1 in their final group game, thanks to two more goals from Osian.
The tightly contested final against England ended in a 0-0 draw after normal time, with Wales winning 4-2 on penalties to lift the trophy.
The Welsh Schools U18 boys team is managed by Marc Lloyd Williams, Sport Programme Leader and Academi Coordinator at Coleg Menai, who accompanied the team to Rome.
He said the win was a huge boost as Welsh Schools U18s bid to win the Centenary Shield for the third year in succession over the next few weeks. They play Scotland on March 14, England on March 28, Northern Ireland on April 11 and Republic of Ireland on April 18.
Marc said: “It’s a great achievement to be the first Welsh squad to win the Roma Caput Mundi tournament, especially off the back of the last couple of years winning the Centenary Shield two years in a row.
“It was the first time we’ve been in the final, and to win on St David’s Day was extra special. The boys did fantastically well and were a credit to the college.”
Osian is studying Level 2 Sport, while midfielders Morgan and Harry are both on the Foundation Diploma in Engineering. All three play for Caernarfon Town.
Marc said: “We’ve developed that partnership with Caernarfon Town, and from Coleg Menai’s perspective, to see three lads coming through that pathway bodes well for the future.”
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai learners Menna Evans and Phoebe Ellis were also involved in international action in Italy, playing for Colleges Wales Sport U19 girls in the Il Calcio E Rossa tournament.
Menna studies Level 3 Sport and Exercise Science at Coleg Menai, while Phoebe is studying Level 3 Sport (Performance & Excellence) at Coleg Llandrillo.
They were accompanied by Catrin Hughes, Sport & Public Services PT Lecturer at Coleg Llandrillo, who was sports therapist for the girls’ squad.
The girls’ team played against Lazio, Canada and Lithuania, gaining invaluable experience of an international tournament.
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