MID DISTRICT RUGBY REVIEW

WRU NATIONAL CUP/ PLATE/BOWL

MASSIVE congratulations go out to Pontypridd, Penallta and Caerphilly who will be flying the flag for Mid District Rugby on WRU finals day at the Principality Stadium on Sunday, April 16, writes Jamie Willis.

Pontypridd will appear in their sixth cup final in seven seasons after surviving a late onslaught from Cross Keys in a cracker at Aberavon. Ponty scored six tries through Ceri Sweeney, Mitch Auger, Cameron Lewis, Dafi Davies and Joe Davies in the 42-37 win. Sweeney was also in good form with the boot kicking four conversions and three penalties.

There was heartbreak though for Merthyr as they were beaten at the death by RGC 1404 at Sardis Road. The Ironmen thought they had pinched the game in the 76th minute with a great score by Martin Thomas, but the North Walians went straight back up the field and clinched a famous win at the death with a Sam Jones try.

Merthyr prop James Howe also scored a try with Matthew Jarvis slotting two conversions and two penalties but it was just quite not enough as they left Pontypridd with a 24-20 loss.

Penallta will have another day out at the stadium after they put on a fantastic display at Newtown to beat a good Nant Conwy outfit 18-13.

Outside half Joseph Scrivens was chief orchestrator on the day for the Pitmen grabbing a try and eight points via the boot with Corey Tucker also crossing the whitewash. Penallta will now meet Ystalyfera in the Plate final on Easter weekend.

In the all-Mid District club Bowl semi-final at Taffs Well it was Caerphilly celebrating as they edged out Cilfynydd by 20-14. Outside half Matthew Hurley was the star of the show grabbing a personal haul of 15 points with Josh Hayward also grabbing a five-pointer. Cilfynydd battled bravely throughout and were rewarded with two second-half tries from Lewis Meechan and Huw Williams with fly half Delme King kicking both conversions, but it was not to be their day. Caerphilly will face Amman United in the final.

There was no Principality Premiership action due to the cup semi-finals but there was a full schedule of other national league games.

In the Championship it wasn’t the best of weekends for both Beddau and Bedlinog. Beddau were beaten 24-18 at home to Glynneath after the visitors scored a late try to take the points.

The Green and Golds’ losing bonus point though means that they move up to third place in the table. Jay Harris and Marcus Jones grabbed Beddau’s tries with the prolific Hywel Chatham kicking a conversion and two penalties.

Bedlinog’s 32-12 loss at Newcastle Emlyn means they are now in a dogfight at the bottom of the table. The Foxes have slipped all the way down to ninth in the table and are just five points clear of the drop positions with three games to play.

In National One East, it was a good afternoon for Rhydyfelin without them even kicking a ball. Their home fixture with Nantyglo was postponed due to a refereeing problem, whilst their closest rivals Nelson were beaten 27-25 at Ynysybwl.

The home team got a try-scoring bonus point thanks to efforts from Sean Ireland, Dion Macintosh, Jack Griffiths and Macauley Griffiths. Macintosh also kicked two conversions and a penalty to consolidate the Bwl’s fourth place in the league. The losing bonus point for the Unicorns mean they are now six points off leaders Rhydyfelin having played a game more.

Senghenydd remain stuck at the bottom despite giving a battling performance at home to Blaenavon. The Saints 4621 reverse leaves them 15 points adrift with four games to play.

In National One East Central, the title race is hotting up a little after leaders Treorchy suffered only their second loss of the season away at Rhiwbina. The Zebras 20-15 loss to the Cardiff club means their lead at the top is cut to seven points after nearest rivals Ystrad Rhondda scraped through by 17-15 at Heol Y Cyw. Ystrad scored three tries in the win through Dano Roberts, Gerwyn Coleman and Anthony Pearce and they now have the advantage of a game in hand over Treorchy with that seven-point deficit to make up.

Mountain Ash won the all-Mid District club affair at Porth Harlequins by 23-7 to consolidate their fourth place in the league. With two games in hand over third-place Rhiwbina a final top three place is in the grasp of the Old Firm. The Quins will have been disappointed not to have got a losing bonus point after some good passages of play and remain nine points clear of the drop zone with three vital games to play.

It was a tough old tie in the Heads of the Valleys where Dowlais edged out a battling Llantwit Fardre by 17-7, which means the visitors will be playing Division Two rugby next season. The Merthyr Valley outfit remain in an excellent fifth place after the victory. Llantwit can take plenty of credit from their recent performances which will give them plenty of confidence as they look to bounce back at the first attempt.

In National Two East Central, leaders Llantrisant were toppled 38-37 at home to a good St Peters outfit as the promotion run-in took a twist. The Black Army are now overtaken at the top by Dinas Powys who gave Aberdare a hard day in the Cynon Valley.

The Snakes could not cause an upset as the Cardiff club left the Ynys with maximum points in the 49-16 final scoreline. Dinas now lead Llantrisant by three points with St Peters in third, six points behind second with all teams having four games left to play.

Aberdare consolidate an excellent fourth place in their first season in Division Two.

Gilfach Goch made it a hat-trick of wins on the bounce as they proved a little stronger than their visitors Old Illtydians. The Gowch’s 33-30 win means they stay in a decent sixth spot.

Abercynon gave a good performance away to a very good Barry outfit but returned empty handed after ending up on the wrong side of a 24-14 scorline. The Cynon Valley lads stay in the relegation places and three points adrift although they do have a game in hand over sides around them.

In National Three East Central A, leaders Cambrian Welfare were without a game due to Cilfynydd’s appearance in the WRU Bowl. Abercwmboi though moved up to second in the table after putting on a superb performance away at Ynysowen. The Village were outstanding in their 61-5 victory which means their hosts now fall to the bottom of the table.

Treharris were another team in top form this weekend as they narrowed the gap on their visitors Taffs Well in fourth place to just four points with two games in hand. The Merthyr Vale Club grabbed the points with a 32-15 win which means that a top-three finish is still not out of the question.

Gwernyfed got themselves out of the relegation spots with a hard earned and deserved 32-28 win over Fairwater in Mid Wales. The Cockerels are now out of the bottom two but still level on points with Llandaff who they have a game in hand over.

Treherbert also got a hugely important win and did their safety chances no harm. The Devils claimed four vital points after defeating a good Llandaff North side 16-12 in the Rhondda. The Devils are now a point above the relegation spots with five big games to play.

In National Three East Central B, leaders Cefn Coed kept their six-point cushion at the top of the table after returning from Cardiff Saracens with a solid 24-0 win.

The Merthyr Valley club keep that lead after nearest rivals Penygraig took the Rhondda derby bragging rights over Tylorstown. The 12-5 win for Graig at the Tigers’ Penrhys Park means that if they win their game in hand and defeat Cefn in a huge game on April 29 then they could top the table. This defeat means that Tylorstown drop a place to sixth in the ladder.

Wattstown were in tryscoring mode as they overwhelmed their hosts St Albans 59-20. The Ducks’ bonus-point win means they stay in fourth place but are just 11 points off third with three games in hand.

Tonyrefail stay in seventh place despite suffering their first home defeat since January to Cowbridge. The Rhondda boys have six games left to play and could still make the top five after going down 25-16 at Parklands.

In National Three East Central C, Ferndale’s hopes of clinching the league title on Saturday were dashed after visitors CIACS cried off but Hirwaun’s hopes of promotion were enhanced with a big 62-0 win at home to Tonygwynlais. Hirwaun are now just two points adrift of second placed Sully View with a game in hand.

In National Three East C, Deri are really building up some momentum as they look for title success. The Rhmney Valley outfit proved their credentials on Saturday with a huge 71-10 win over Malpas which leaves them five points off leaders Markham with a game in hand. That game in hand will be played against Trefil on Wednesday at Rhymney.

WRU NATIONAL YOUTH PLATE & BOWL

CONGRATULATIONS go out to Treorchy Youth who will appear in the WRU Youth National Bowl final after recording a memorable 10-7 win over a good Llandovery side on Saturday.

The young Zebras will meet Bridgend Athletic in the final.

Commiserations are sent out to Gilfach Goch Youth who were beaten 39-12 by Burry Port in the Plate semi-final. It is a fantastic achievement to reach that stage and they should be proud of their efforts.

WORTHINGTON MID DISTRICT CUP & BOWL

THE final quarter final tie of this season’s Worthington MDRU Cup takes place this evening (Wednesday, March 26) at Ystrad Mynach as Penallta host local rivals Nelson.

The dates and venues for this season’s Worthington MDRU Cup and Bowl semi-finals have been announced.

In the cup competition, Brecon and Bedlinog will do battle for a place in the final at Merthyr RFC’s Wern complex on Thursday, April 20 with a 7.30pm kick-off.

The other tie between the winner of the Penallta and Nelson tie and Treorchy has yet to have a date or venue confirmed due to the clubs involved still having WRU Plate, Glamorgan County Silver Ball and national league playoff ambitions.

In the Bowl competition, the big Cynon Valley derby between Aberdare and Abercwmboi will take place at Abercynon’s Y Parc ground on Tuesday, April 18. The other semifinal between Division Two East leaders Llantrisant and high flying Division Three East Central A leaders Penygraig will take place at the Oval in Treorchy on Wednesday, April 19. Both games are to kick off at 7.15pm.

The provisional dates for the finals, which are to be held at Sardis Road, are Wednesday May 3 (Bowl) and Wednesday May 10 (Cup).

RHONDDA & EAST GLAMORGAN DRU CUP FINAL DATES

THE new dates for the REGDRU Mel Davies and Keith Jones Cup final have been released.

Last weeks postponed REGDRU Mel Davies Cup final between Caerphilly and Rhydyfelin will now take place on Wednesday, April 12 at Penygraig with a 7.15pm kick-off.

The REGDRU Keith Jones Cup final, which was originally scheduled for this Sunday between Abercynon and Cambrian Welfare, has now been put back to Sunday, April 23. The venue will again be Rhydyfelin with a 2.30pm kick-off.

Brecon became the first team to reach the Ivor Williams Cup final after beating Ystrad Rhondda 18-13 on Saturday, they will now play the winner of Saturday’s other semi between Bargoed and Penallta on a date and venue to be confirmed.

MID DISTRICT XV

THE Mid District Rugby Union are pleased to announce that they have arranged a fixture with the East District Rugby Union.

The game will take place at Sardis Road, Pontypridd on Wednesday, April 26 with a 7.30pm kick-off.

There is hope that this fixture will become a regular fixture in the calendar with the game being played every other season at Sardis Road and Cardiff Arms Park.

A squad has been selected and will be announced in the coming days.