MID DISTRICT
RUGBY REVIEW
LOTS of games involving Mid District clubs fell foul to the weather over the weekend, but the games that did go ahead provided plenty of entertainment,
There was no scheduled Principality Premiership fixtures and there was almost a wipe out of National Championship games with the only games going ahead being at Glamorgan Wanderers and Cardiff Met. It was Beddau who travelled down to the Ely Memorial Ground and came away with maximum bonus points as flanker Jordan Goodwin grabbed a brace of tries with Dai Francis, Jack Dando and Matthew Howells also crossing the line in the 34-11 win over the Wanderers. Outside half Hywel Chatham also kicked a penalty and three conversions which means the Green and Golds are now just six points off third place side Tata Steel.
Bedlinog’s Recreation Ground was deemed unplayable for their fixture with Dunvant.
In National One East, leaders Rhydyfelin recorded their tenth bonus-point win of the season and kept their 100% league record going with a hard fought 36-10 home win over fellow Mid District club Brecon. Hooker Scott Pritchard scored twice, with Fforest Quirke, Ross Lucas, Mark Tyler and skipper Lewis Smith also grabbing five pointers as the league leaders kept their two-point lead at the top of the table. Brecon tested their hosts with a battling display but slip a spot in the table after the loss to seventh spot.
There was no stopping Nelson as they kept the pressure on the leaders with an emphatic 54-7 win over Abertillery BG at their Park Ground. The Unicorns were ruthless and proved that they are certainly going to push for a play-off spot at the end of the season as they consolidated their excellent second place in the ladder.
Third placed Penallta’s game at basement club Nantyglo was postponed but fourth-placed Ynysybwl found it tough going at fifth-placed Risca. A Dion Macintosh penalty was the only score for the Bwl as they left Gwent with a 28-3 loss which means they are now just a point ahead of their hosts in the table.
Senghenydd will have been disappointed not to have picked up at least a losing bonus point at home to mid-table Bryn- mawr. The Saints stay in eleventh place in the table after the 23-15 defeat but are only six points away from escaping the relegation spots.
In National One East Central, leaders Treorchy extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points as they proved too strong for the Cardiff Quins at the Oval. The Zebras claimed maximum points in the 37-3 win whilst the fixture between second place Mountain Ash and third place Ystrad Rhondda was postponed in the Rhondda. The game of the week is at Parc Dyffryn Pennar next weekend as Mountain Ash host the league leaders.
A depleted Dowlais team fell just short of a win at Heol Y Cyw. The Heads of the Valleys club could only claim a bonus point in their 23-22 defeat which sees them drop to sixth place in the table.
Porth Harlequins slipped into the relegation spots after a late try prevented them from at least claiming a losing bonus point at Rhiwbina. The Quins 27-19 loss means that next week’s home clash with Heol Y Cyw, who have jumped above them in the table, is probably a must-win game.
Llantwit Fardre had two men sent off in an undisciplined fixture at St Josephs where the home team ended the game with maximum points and a 47-17 success. The Blues are now 12 points off safety but on their day can still surprise teams and get out of jail.
In National Two East Central, Aberdare enjoyed a good 20-11 win over CR Cymry Caerdydd at their Ynys Ground. Flanker Ieuan Archer was amongst the try scorers for the Snakes and the prolific Jamie Price slotted 10 points from the boot to keep the Cynon Valley side in third spot in the table and just seven points off leaders St Peters.
Llantrisant won the battle of the Mid District Clubs at their Cefn Mably ground as they pipped Gilfach Goch by 20-17.
The win means the Black Army remain in fourth spot and seven points off the top with a game in hand over the top three. Gilfach will again have been disappointed to have finished a game with just a losing bonus point and drop a position in the table.
Abercynon’s home game with Pontyclun was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
In National Three East Central A leaders Cambrian Welfare’s fixture with Fairwater was postponed, as the Cardiff club was unable to raise a team. Second-place Abercwmboi were unable to capitalise on this as their game at home to Llandaff North was another game to have lost out to the elements.
Cilfynydd did manage to get out on the paddock and recorded a 33-18 win at a good Llandaff side. The bonus-point win for the Bumbles sees them return to second spot and are now just three points off the leaders but have played one game more.
The battle at the bottom end of the table between Ynysowen and Gwernyfed also fell foul of the weather as did inform Treharris’ home game with Treherbert.
In National Three East Central B, Cefn Coed made it win number 11 from 11 with a hard fought 21-13 home win over Cowbridge. The Wolves sit pretty at the top of the table with a lead of 10 points.
Penygraig stay in second place in the table despite their game with Canton at Graig Park being postponed.
Tylorstown grabbed their sixth league win of the season with an excellent 26-12 away win at Llantwit Major which means they jump up to fourth place in the table and have games in hand over the teams above them. This was the Tigers’ fourth win on the bounce.
Wattstown moved up to sixth place in the table with a 15-10 win over Old Penarthians in the Rhondda. The Ducks took the spoils in a tight encounter which means if they win their game in hand they will jump to fifth place and start chasing down the top four.
Tonyrefail were the big winners of the day as they really gave their hosts St Albans a torrid afternoon in the capital. The Rhondda Valley club were in try-scoring mood as they recorded a 61-12 win to consolidate their tenth place in the table but are now just five points off seventh place.
In National Three East Central C, Ferndale claimed their eighth consecutive maximum bonus-point win of the season at Whitchurch. The Scarlet Bulldogs were made to battle for the victory though eventually running out 22-8 winners.
With second-place Hirwaun’s game at home to CIACS being postponed the Rhondda club extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points with games still in hand on clubs below them.
The National Three East A fixture between Blackwood Stars and the clash between Deri and Trefil in National Three East C were both called off due to frozen pitches.
WALES SIX NATIONS SQUAD / WALES UNDER 20S /WALES SEVENS SQUAD
MASSIVE congratulations go out to Aberdare RFC product Thomas Young who has been included in the Wales squad for the first time.
Young has been one of the stand-out players in the Aviva Premiership this season with Wasps and makes it a quartet of Mid District products in the squad. Prop Scott Andrews, second row Corey Hill and hooker Kristian Dacey are the others selected and congratulations are sent out to them and we look forward to following their progress in this season’s tournament.
There are 10 Mid District club products selected in the Wales under-20s Six Nations squad.
Forwards Kieron Assarati, Callum Bradbury, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Morgan Sienawski, Ellis Shipp and Tom Mably are joined in the squad by backs Ben Jones, Arwel Robson, Dane Blacker and Cameron Lewis.
The squad kick off their Six Nations campaign away to Italy on Friday, February 3 and all of the squad’s games will be shown live, either on BBC or S4C.
Best wishes are also sent out to Ynysybwl products Adam Thomas and Owen Jenkins who have again been picked in the Wales Sevens squad for the Wellington leg of the World Series. The duo have a fantastic record on the circuit and we wish them further success.
FOSTER’S CUP
MERTHYR and Bargoed both claimed wins in the final group games of the Foster’s Cup last Wednesday night.
Merthyr, who had already qualified for the semi-finals as group winners, made the trip to fellow Mid District club Pontypridd and returned home with maximum bonus points after an entertaining 36-26 victory.
The Ironmen ended the group stages eight points clear at the top of group three and will be in the last-four draw with other group winners Bedwas, Bridgend Ravens and Carmarthen Quins.
Alex Howman scored a brace of tries for Merthyr with Adam Hoskins, Dean Gunter and Owen Howe also crossing the whitewash with Matthew Jarvis kicking 11 points. Pontypridd showed plenty of spirit, particularly in the second period, and scored four tries themselves through Declan Williams, Sean Moore, Jake Thomas and Joe Davies with Callum Hall kicking three conversions.
Bargoed have had a very good Foster’s Cup run and ended this season’s tournament with a 30-15 win at Ebbw Vale, which was their fourth consecutive victory.
The Blues finished in a creditable second place in what was arguably the toughest group of this season’s Foster’s Cup. Lewis Lipiatt crossed twice for Bargoed with Callum Jones and Craig Wilson also scoring five pointers to go with the awarding of a penalty try to wrap up a bonus-point win. Jones also added 10 points via the boot. Mountain Ash full back Will Holley kicked a penalty and conversion for the Steelemen whilst on permit in their defeat.
BLUES CUP
THE quarter-final draw for this season’s Blues Cup and Plate has been made.
The draw has set up some real intriguing ties and the full draw is listed below:
U12s Blues Cup – Llantrisant v Llantwit Fardre, Llantwit Major v Cowbridge, Treorchy v St Peters¸ Llandaff v Pontypridd.
Blues Plate – Merthyr v Rhiwbina, Llandaff v Pontypridd, Brecon v Builth Wells, Pentyrch v CRICC, Rumney v Pontyclun.
U13s Blues Cup – Llandaff v Builth Wells, Aberdare v Pontyclun, Llanishen v Llantwit Fardre, Pontypridd v St Peters.
Blues Plate – Dowlais v Ystrad Rhondda¸ Dinas Powys v Gwernyfed, Abercynon v Cowbridge, Pentrych v Merthyr.
U14s Blues Cup – Pontyclun v Rumney, Treorchy v Llanishen, Penarth v CRICC, Llantwit Fardre v Pentrych.
Blues Plate – Cefn Coed v Rhiwbina, Llandaff v Dowlais, Abercwmboi v St Peters, Abercynon v Beddau.
WORTHINGTON MID DISTRICT CUP
TREORCHY and Rhydyfelin, who currently lead Division One East Central and One East respectively, have arranged their Worthington MDRU Cup tie.
The teams will do battle in the quarter-final fixture at the Zebra’s Oval Ground on Thursday, February 9 with a 7.15pm.
Both clubs remain unbeaten in their respective leagues after an excellent first half of the season. It has all the ingredients of a real cracker of a game between two clubs who have ambitions to win several trophies this season.
SCHOOLS RUGBY
THERE was representative rugby for schools last weekend with many players from Mid District clubs involved.
In the Dewar Shield, Rhondda Schools under15s kept up their hugely impressive start to the campaign with a 41-5 win at RGC. The Valley Schoolboys are now unbeaten in their first four games and have clocked up an average of 35 points in their fixtures. The only bad thing from their trip to North Wales was that they conceded their first points of the campaign!
Rhondda are joint top of the table now with the Vale of Glamorgan Schools who too are unbeaten in their first four games after beating Pontypridd 12-5 in a very tight but enjoyable fixture at Sardis Road. Ponty were unlucky not to claim their second win of the campaign and as a result of that slip to eighth spot in the table.
In the Dewar Plate, Cynon Valley Schools made it three wins from three with an excellent 26-0 win at Carmarthen. That victory means that they keep their spot at the top of the table and are now just one of two teams that remain unbeaten in this competition.
In the Dewar Bowl, there were several fixtures postponed.
RHONDDA & EAST GLAMORGAN DRU
THE draw for the quarterfinals of Ivor Williams Cup and semi-finals of both the Keith Jones and Mel Davies Cups has been made.
In the Ivor Williams Cup draw a big derby clash between Bedlinog and Penallta is one of the stand out ties, whilst reigning champions Bargoed face a tricky away game at Aberdare. Brecon will host high flying Dowlais and Ystrad Rhondda travel to Ynysybwl in the other games.
In the Keith Jones Cup semi-finals the winner of Saturday’s quarter-final game between Penygraig and Gilfach Goch will play at home in another Rhondda derby against Cambrian Welfare. The winners of that tie will play the victors of the Abercynon v Tylorstown game in the final.
In the Mel Davies Cup, reigning champions Rhydyfelin will host Division C leaders Nelson whilst Caerphilly face a tough away day at Wattstown.
Ivor Williams Cup quarter-finals (games to be played on January 28 or before where possible) Brecon v Dowlais, Ynysybwl v Ystrad Rhondda, Bedlinog v Penallta, Aberdare v Bargoed.
Keith Jones Cup semifinals (to be played before end March) – Penygraig/ Gilfach Goch v Cambrian Welfare, Abercynon v Tylorstown.
Mel Davies Cup semifinals (to be played before end March) – Wattstown v Caerphilly, Rhydyfelin v Nelson.