COACH Chris Offa likened his Builth Wells youth team’s season to a Hollywood movie script after his supremely talented side completed a tremendous treble last weekend.

In a dramatic finale fit for a silver screen blockbuster, the young Bulls kept fans on the edge of their seats right up until the final moments, claiming the league title by the slenderest of margins – beating Llantwit Fardre 18-17 on Saturday.

Tries from Ciaran Price and Cerith Davies, two Rhys Davies penalties and a conversion from Tom Hughes rubberstamped victory and saw Builth handed the Cardiff Premiership League, which will now stand proudly beside the Cardiff North Cup and the jewel in the crown, the Welsh Youth Cup.

“It’s been epic. It’s like a movie script,” said head coach Offa, who fittingly steps down this summer after four years in charge.

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Offa has spent probably half of his days each week over the last 204 of them (or several hundred of the 1,406 days he’s been in charge) at training sessions or games, coaching, advising and strategising alongside his other mentors. But he admits it’s all been worth it.

“It’s been a fantastic experience,” he added.

“It’s weird. We went from the lowest point ever with Covid, wondering when or even will rugby ever happen again, to doing a treble and all the stuff we’ve done. What a journey.”

County Times: Builth coaches (l-r) celebrate their cup success, including team manager Lyndon Jones, Chris Offa (who now steps down), Hughie Lloyd and Shaun Hughes. Pic Lia Price Builth coaches (l-r) celebrate their cup success, including team manager Lyndon Jones, Chris Offa (who now steps down), Hughie Lloyd and Shaun Hughes. Pic Lia Price

What a journey indeed. Although the crowning moment for everyone; coaches, players, parents, supporters – 1,000 of them reportedly flocked to the capital, Cardiff – will be watching the youth team annihilate Bridgend Athletic in the final of the Welsh Youth Cup at the Principality Stadium at the end of April. Winger Price picked Bridgend apart that day with four tries, including a first-half hat-trick, in a dominant 44-17 victory.

It's a season that will live long in the memory, but nobody on the pitch or in the stands on April 23 is ever likely to forget that performance or that day.

It’s probably not surprising that following that epic day, the stroll down the season’s home straight has become more of a slog, with the Bulls having to dig deep on Saturday to secure a third piece of silverware.

“We raised our game so high in the final, then we had to come back and finish the league with some difficult games,” said Offa.

“Merthyr, then Cowbridge and Llantwit. There were lots of nerves on Saturday, we were playing against lots of international players.

“Perhaps it was hard to get back up for it following the high of the Principality Stadium. Llantwit are probably one of the best sides we’ve played this season and we had to play them last. But we rose to the occasion eventually.”

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The squad will now celebrate with a presentation evening at Builth Rugby Club this Friday, May 20, at 7.30pm.

And, even though Offa now hands the reigns to forwards and backs coaches Shaun Hughes and Hughie Lloyd, he’s predicting big things for these players.

“I think we’ve got a few players who will progress higher and some will hopefully be stepping up to the seniors straight away from next season,” he said.

“They’re an example to teams that follow in their footsteps, in terms of their attitude and commitment to training.

“I’ve been coaching them for five years but these lads have been together from aged six. Their success is testament to them and the junior set-up at Builth.”