MID DISTRICT ROUND-UP
THERE was tries galore in fixtures involving Mid District clubs over the weekend,
There was again no Principality Premiership action as the British and Irish Cup was played involving Regional Premiership Select XVs.
In the National Championship, Beddau made it five wins on the bounce with a good 29-14 away win at Skewen. The Green and Golds claimed a bonus point which keeps them in fourth place and just four points off second and third spot.
Bedlinog will have been hugely disappointed to have left Pontypool Park with just a losing bonus point after they led league leaders Pontypool going into the final stages of the game. But a late fight back by Pooler earned them a 13-10 win to stay at the top whilst the Foxes remain in fifth place.
In National One East, league leaders Rhydyfelin continued their excellent start to the season with a 10-try thrashing of bottom club Blaenavon at the Hawthorn Recreation ground. The Taff Ely Club got their bonus point in the bag before half-time with hooker Scott Pritchard crossing for a hat-trick of tries and Kevin Briggs, Mark Tyler, Dai Gratton, Ross Lucas, Fforest Quirke, Chris Tottle and Luke Rees all getting five pointers in the 62-5 success. Gratton was also on form with the boot slotting six conversions.
Nelson bounced back from their first defeat of the season last week by claiming the bragging rights in their local derby at Senghenydd. The Unicorns 25-5 win means that they stay in second spot and just five points off leaders Rhydyfelin. A battling Saints outfit stay in 11th spot.
Penallta were the real big hitters of the day as they were on fire at fellow District outfit Brecon. The Pitmen too had a bonus point in the bag by halftime and didn’t let up in the second period as they raced to a crushing 8812 victory over their Mid Wales hosts. Brecon now lay in tenth place in the table but their visitors are now in third and just six points off the top.
There was a thriller of a game at Ynysybwl’s Recreation Ground where there were 12 tries in total shared by them and their visitors Abertillery BG. The Bwl eventually took the points with a remarkable 48-41 scoreline thanks to four tries from the outstanding Dale Stuckey, plus individual efforts from Gareth King, Joseph Williams and Dewi Morris. The prolific Dion Macintosh weighed in with 13 points with the boot. The bonus-point win keeps Ynysybwl in a good fourth place.
In National One East Central, Treorchy are now the only unbeaten team in the league as they defeated Llanharan, and Dowlais lost for the first time this season to Mountain Ash.
The Zebras were too hot for recently-relegated Llanharan at the Oval as they recorded a big 52-17 win. This victory means that the Rhondda club have now built up a big sixpoint lead at the top.
Dowlais’ brilliant 100% start to the season was finally ended as the Old Firm took the points with a hard-fought 27-21 win up in the Heads of the Valleys. Dowlais stay second in the table but are now just four points in front of Mountain Ash who are only a place lower after this victory.
A try from Jack Lawthom and a conversion and penalty from Corey Sheppard proved only to be a consolation for Ystrad Rhondda as they left Rhiwbina with a disappointing 27-10 defeat which means they drop a spot to fourth in the ladder.
Porth Harlequins got their season back on track with a well-deserved bonus point 32-24 victory over Cardiff Quins in the Rhondda. The win sees them jump over their visitors and into a mid-table position.
Llantwit Fardre finally got the win their efforts deserved as they returned from Rumney with not just a victory but a try bonus point. The Blues started well and despite a late fightback by the Cardiff outfit they eventually ran out 27-22 winners. They remain in bottom spot but are now only five points off both Rumney and Cardiff Quins.
In National Two East Central, the Black Army of Llantrisant keep marching on as they recorded a sixth consecutive league win. They also got the extra point as they scored four tries in the defeat of second place Dinas Powys 24-17 at Cefn Mably.
Aberdare are really enjoying life in Division Two and they moved up to second with a superb 47-12 home win over Penarth in the Cynon Valley. The Snakes have only lost twice this season and are certainly going to be in the promotion mix if they keep this fine form up.
Abercynon though dropped to fifth place as they lost for the first time in several weeks at St Peters. The Rocks took the points with a 20-8 win despite Cynon showing plenty of determination throughout.
Gilfach Goch also were left pointless as a committed Barry outfit took the spoils at the Welfare Ground. The 34-21 reverse leaves the Gowch just above the bottom two in the table.
In National Three East Central A, leaders Cilfynydd were made to work hard for victory against a much-improved Llandaff North side in the capital. The Bumbles kept up their impressive season start with a bonus-point 29-18 win which means they are a point clear at the top.
Cambrian Welfare stay in second as they won the battle of the other unbeaten sides with Treharris at the Tump. The Miners came out on top by 26-6 in an entertaining all-District encounter.
Abercwmboi were in superb form as they recorded a 31-13 home win over a good Taffs Well outfit. The Village claimed a try bonus point which keeps them with the leading pack at the top of the table after the first six games.
Ynysowen returned from the capital pointless after they met a Fairwater side who put on one of their best performances of the season to gain a 35-13. Ynys have one win to their name this season so far and sit in ninth place.
Treherbert will have been disappointed not to at least pick up a losing bonus point from their travels to Llandaff.
The Devils fought hard but could not prevent their hosts picking up their first win of the season by 16-6.
Gwernyfed kept up their good recent performances and claimed their second win of the season at Pentyrch. The Cockerels move up a place to sixth with the 22-5 win.
In National Three East Central B, it was Cefn Coed who came out on top in the battle of the top two with visitors Wattstown. Cefn now have gone six games without a loss in the league after this 18-7 win and go a big eight points clear at the top. The hard-working Ducks though will certainly be in the mix for promotion at the end of the season despite this loss.
Third-place Penygraig were disappointed that St Albans pulled out of their game at Graig Park on Saturday morning due to lack of players available.
Tylorstown returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 22-15 win at Cowbridge. The Tigers still have only one loss to their league record this season and they now move to a good third spot.
Tonyrefail played their part in an entertaining fixture in Llantwit Major but could not take the points as the Vale club ended the fixture with a 47-21 success. The Rhondda club though are still in a solid ninth spot after five games.
In National Three East Central C, Hirwaun were without a game and Ferndale’s fixture with fellow unbeaten side Llanrumney was abandoned just before half-time when they were leading by 5-3 due to a nasty player injury.
In National Three East A, Caerphilly ended Oakdale’s unbeaten start to the season with an excellent 36-22 win.
The game was nip and tuck up until the last 10 minutes when the Cheesemen showed their fitness to take the bonus point success at their Constructaquote Stadium. Caerphilly now sit in third place in the ladder.
In National Three East C, Deri suffered their first league defeat of the season at Markham. The Broncos slip a few places in the table after this 2212 defeat.
WORTHINGTON MID DISTRICT CUP
DOWLAIS, Rhydyfelin and Treorchy have already booked their places in the quarter-final draw of this season’s Worthington Mid District Cup and they will be joined by five other clubs over the next few weeks.
On Tuesday November 1 high-flying Mountain Ash will host their fellow Division One East Central outfit Porth Harlequins, then 24 hours later arguably the clash of the round will take place at Bedlinog as the Foxes entertain cup holders and fellow Championship outfit Beddau. Then on Friday, November 4 there is an all-Division-One-East tie at Senghenydd where Brecon are the visitors. Dates for the final games of the round between Penallta and Llantwit Fardre and Ynysybwl versus Nelson have yet to be confirmed.
WORTHINGTON MID DISTRICT BOWL
TONYREFAIL booked their place in the second round of this season’s Worthington MDRU Bowl after a good 20-12 win over Caerphilly at their Parklands ground last Wednesday evening.
The win sets up a Rhondda derby with Penygraig with a date to be confirmed.
Wattstown, Abercynon and Treherbert have already won their secondround games after wins over Tylorstown, Ferndale and Hirwaun respectively. Gilfach Goch and Llantrisant will play their second round tie at Gilfach’s Welfare Ground this week and the final round two games between Aberdare and Gwernyfed, Cefn Coed and Abercwmboi and Deri and Treharris are awaiting date confirmation.