Season’s greetings A look back at the highs and lows of 2016-17 for Mid District clubs
A season of success for Mid District clubs
THERE have been some fantastic achievements by clubs in the Mid District Rugby Union during the 2015/16 season, writes Jamie Willis.
Pontypridd again enjoyed success over the year, but perhaps by their extremely high standards will still be a little disappointed. The Sardis Road outfit finished top of the Principality Premiership regular season table for a remarkable sixth consecutive term and were also crowned the inaugural winners of the Foster’s Challenge trophy after beating Bedwas 38-34 in Bridgend at the beginning of April. They were beaten 25-16 by Llandovery in the Swalec Cup semi-final and lost 38-12 to Ebbw Vale in the Principality league play-off final. To most clubs this would be an excellent season but to the Valley Commandos it may not be good enough. One thing is for sure though that next season they will be striving to achieve high standards once again.
Joining Pontypridd in the top tier of the WRU league structure next season will be Merthyr and Bargoed. The Ironmen of Merthyr were crowned Swalec Champions for the season with just two defeats. They finished 10 points clear at the top of the table from their nearest rivals Swansea and also put Llanelli out of the Swalec Cup at Parc Y Scarlets before just being edged out by Pontypridd in the mud of Sardis Road in the quarter-finals. Their Wern ground is currently undergoing a redevelopment which will turn it into one of the best facilities in the league next season, which includes a state-of-the-art 4G playing surface. Bargoed finally get their chance of Premiership rugby next season after finishing third in the Championship table. The Blues were crowned Championship champions in 2014/15 but due to the club not having the strict WRU ground criteria for entry to the Premiership they had to play another year in the second tier. This season again they did the talking on the park despite a poor start to the season and with the work of a lot of dedicated clubmen managed to get their ground up to the WRU’s requirements. Beddau can also be more than happy with their year’s work in the Championship. The Green and Golds finished the season in sixth spot, which means they are the highest placed club in Wales without an A Licence. Their successful first season back in the Championship was also boosted by a spirited 1514 Worthington MDRU Cup win over Bargoed at Sardis Road recently.
If there was an award for Mid District team of the year then Bedlinog would certainly be amongst or if not the favourites for the award. The Foxes have had a season that they will never forget. They took the Swalec Division One East title with just two losses all season, they beat their old rivals Penallta to claim the Swalec Plate at the Principality Stadium and then went on to claim the prestigious Glamorgan County Silver Ball with a 32-15 win over Porth Harlequins in the final at Aberavon.
Penallta again proved that they were a difficult team to beat during the season. The Pitmen finished runners-up in both Division One and the Swalec Plate. They will still be feeling the pain from Bedlinog’s Liam Jones last-second drop goal in the Plate final which handed Bedlinog the title. They continued to play a good style of rugby and will be amongst the favourites for the One East title next season. Rhydyfelin’s young guns will be proud of their end of season run as they recorded a superb eight consecutive wins to finish above their local neighbours Ynysybwl in third place. Rhyd will also be looking to mount a title challenge next season if they keep the nucleus of their squad together. Ynysybwl will be hugely disappointed to have finished their season in fourth place after they looked at one point favourites to take the league title. Their squad was decimated by injuries and players working away at the end of the season which resulted in them losing their final five fixtures.
Nelson also proved during the season that on their day they could compete with anybody. They certainly pushed league champions and local rivals Bedlinog to the wire in their penultimate game of the season when the Foxes needed an injurytime score to scrape a 19-19 draw. Next season could be a promising period also for the Unicorns.
Senghenydd enjoyed a very good last few months of the year which saw them going from being in the middle of a relegation fight to finishing nine points in front of the relegated clubs.
In Swalec Division One East Central, it was deja vu for Ystrad Rhondda. The Valleys club missed out on the title for the third consecutive season as Glamorgan Wanderers were crowned champions. Ystrad again enjoyed a good run in the Swalec Plate and Worthington MDRU Cup but will be keen to ensure next year is fourth time lucky for league success.
Treorchy and Llantwit Fardre will be perhaps a little disappointed with a mid-table finish. Both clubs pushed the top end clubs all the way during fixtures throughout the season. The Zebras took champions Glamorgan Wanderers’ 100% record off them after the Christmas period. Both sides have good youngsters which will no doubt mean that they will progress as clubs next season.
Mountain Ash certainly gave their supporters some sleepless nights during the season but their end-of-season form means that they will not be relegated to Division Two next season. With just a handful of games to play the Old Firm looked like they were in trouble but some excellent wins ensured their safety. Gilfach Goch unfortunately were on the wrong end of one of Mountain Ash’s wins and that meant that they were to make the drop into the league below. The “Gowch” battled gallantly after Christmas and got some very good wins but just could not escape from the relegation spots. With a strong youth squad there is no doubt it won’t take Gilfach too long to climb back up the ladder.
Another club who would certainly be amongst the nominations for the team of the year would be Porth Harlequins. The Rhondda club lost just the once on their way to the Swalec Division Two East Central title. They also finished runners-up in the Glamorgan County Silver Ball and Worthington MDRU Bowl. They will certainly test clubs in Division One next season. Dowlais will be another club who will be testing Division One clubs next season as they also enjoyed a successful nine months. The Heads of the Valleys club were promoted as runners-up in Division Two East Central and were victorious in the Worthington MDRU Bowl final. Their hard working forwards and lively backs will be looking forward to their instant return to the higher league.
Llantrisant threw everything at returning to Division One at the first chance but fell just two victories short. The Black Army tested everybody in the league during the season and will be amongst the favourites to make a title and promotion push next season. Abercynon improved massively over the season and a late run of wins put to bed any worries of relegation. They too have a good young squad who will be aiming for a higher league finish next season. Unfortunately both Treherbert and Gwernyfed will make the drop into Division Three next season. Both clubs showed glimpses of what they are capable of during the season which will give them a great deal of encouragement as they look to put together a promotion push next season.
In Swalec Division Three East, Caerphilly’s young squad will be happy with their efforts for the year. They ended the season with a 50% win ratio from their 20 games and with them showing ambition off the field and a good breed of youth players coming through their system the future looks bright at Virginia Park.
Deri were another club who had a satisfactory season and also finished the season with a 50% win success.
The Rhymney Valley club ended up in midtable in Swalec Division Three East C and will hope they can take their good end-of-season form over into the new season.
Aberdare were the standout team in Swalec Division Three East Central A, where they eventually run out champions by a massive 21 points. The Cynon Valley club were heartbroken to have been beaten by a last-play score in the Swalec Bowl but showed their steel to bounce back and finish the season on a high. The Snakes are a very progressive club and will be looking to compete at the top end of Division Two next season. Cambrian Welfare can look back on the season with a tinge of disappointment yet also a tinge of pride. The Rhondda club missed out on promotion by one win and were also beaten in the semi-final of the Swalec Bowl by a late, late score. They no doubt will be amongst the favourites for this league’s title next season.
Cilfynydd are perhaps the most improved club of the year. The Taff Ely club were really in a bad situation early in the season, but they regrouped and gallantly ended the season in fourth place. They enjoyed some superb wins in the final months of the season which shows they too will be a force in this division next year. Treharris also proved to be a handful during the season and are certainly capable of finishing higher than this season’s fifth place next term. They held the end-of-season bragging rights over local rivals Ynysowen who will be happy with a midtable finish and can look forward to another year of derbies with the Phoenix.
Wattstown will play a league lower next season after they were relegated despite putting up a brave fight over the last few months of the season. With the Ducks Youth squad enjoying a hugely successful season it will only be a matter of time before they bounce back up the league.
Abercwmboi were certainly the most successful of Mid District clubs in Swalec Division Three East Central B. The Village ended the season in second spot which means promotion next season. They also finished the season without a home loss and were one of only two clubs to beat league champions Taffs Well. They also enjoyed a good Worthington MDRU Bowl run before losing out at the semi-final stage. Tylorstown’s young guns were also impressive during the season and deservedly ended the year in third place.
The Tigers only suffered four losses and will be keen for a promotion push next season. Penygraig are another club who deserve massive credit for their playing improvement over the final months of the season. They were in the relegation mix in February but a good run saw them end the season in a solid mid-table place. Cefn Coed also finished the season in mid-table. The Wolves had a good start to the season but slightly faded away during the final few months. They are a club who are extremely difficult to beat on their own patch and are certainly capable of pushing for a top-end finish next season. Tonyrefail showed real fighting spirit towards the end of the season which helped them maintain their league status at this level for another year.
Ton had a heavy late fixture list but didn’t let this hamper them as they deservedly got the points to keep their supporters happy.
In Swalec Division Three East Central C, both Hirwaun and Ferndale enjoyed good seasons. Hirwaun finished the year in third place and were unbeaten at home throughout whilst Ferndale ended a place lower with only four losses to their record. Both teams can certainly fight for a promotion place next season.
In 2nd XV rugby, Bargoed’s young squad were as successful as their first team as they picked up both the Rhondda & East Glamorgan Division One title and Ivor Williams Cup in a season that they finished unbeaten. The Blues did face a big fight off Penallta in the league and were given a real fight in the cup final by a good Beddau outfit.
Brecon were crowned Rhondda & East Glamorgan Division Two champions as they pipped Bedlinog to the title, but the Foxes took the Keith Jones Cup with a win over Llantwit Fardre in an excellent final.
Rhydyfelin enjoyed double success as they took the Division Three title and the Mel Davies Cup with a win over Cambrian Welfare at Beddau.
All in all the Rhondda & East Glamorgan DRU League and Cup tournaments have been successful over the season and with a little tinkering with the rules and regulations for next year it promises to be another good term.
In Youth rugby, Pontypridd were crowned Blues league champions and the Dragons winners were Caerphilly. Both clubs represented their regions in the Champion of Champions Play-offs recently. Caerphilly beat a good Crymych side but Pontypridd were just edged out by Ospreys champions Nantyffllon. In the final at Ystrad Mynach on Friday evening, Caerphilly and Nantyffllon put on a fantastic game of rugby in front of a large crowd but it was the Llynfi Valley club who took the spoils by 28-24.
Pontypridd Youth did not just take the Blues A title but they also were winners of the Taff Rhondda YDRU Merit table final and were beaten finalists in the Taff Rhondda YDRU knockout cup.
Mountain Ash Youth finished in a very good third place in the Blues A league and got to the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup before lifting the Heart of Wales YDRU Cup recently with a win over Brecon. Aberdare also enjoyed a good league season with a fourth place finish, whilst Beddau improved massively over the season and Merthyr also caused teams some problems.
Wattstown Youth will be celebrating a hugely successful season. The young Ducks not only won the Blues B title but also beat Pontypridd in the Taff Rhondda YDRU Cup final. The Rhondda youngsters won a very tight league where clubs like Brecon, Gilfach Goch, Penygraig, Rhydyfelin and Tylorstown all did exceptionally well.
Tonyrefail Youth took the Blues C league title where seven Mid District clubs battled each other all season. Treorchy and Ynysybwl finished second and third respectively whilst Llantwit Fardre, Porth Harlequins. Llantrisant and Cilfynydd, who it was good to see return to youth rugby, all showcased the talents of youth rugby in the district. Ynysybwl reached the last four of the WRU Bowl tournament.
Builth Wells Youth just beat Abercynon to the Blues BD Championship in what was the tightest of all the leagues. Abercwmboi and Gwernyfed also give good accounts of themselves and there was plenty of promising moments from Aberdare II, Ynysowen and Treharris.
In the Dragons region, Caerphilly Youth took the Dragons B title by seven points with Penallta again showing their talents with a third-place finish. The young Cheesemen are also through to the Caerphilly YDRU Cup final.
Senghenydd Youth were champions of Dragons D league with a 100% record for the season. The Saints also have a date with Caerphilly this week in the Caerphilly YDRU Cup final. They also enjoyed a superb Swalec Plate run where they reached the semi-final stage. Nelson had a good season with eight wins from 12 games, whilst Penallta and Bargoed also battled hard in a good Division.
In the Women’s game, Ynysybwl will have been disappointed to have been beaten to the Division Two title on the final game of the season but will have certainly made up for that by winning the WRU Bowl final last weekend with a 11-5 win over Gorseinon.
Senghenydd enjoyed a good finish in the league but their pride will be in clinching the WRU Shield after a good final with Porth.
Wattstown and Bedlinog also proved to be very good teams over the season in this league.
Porth Harlequins enjoyed a superb season; they took the Division Three title and were also runners-up in the WRU Shield. Treorchy also appeared in Division Three this season and did very well in the games they played.
In college rugby, Coleg Y Cymoedd again excelled. They not only took the WRU Colleges Cup at the Principality Stadium but were again crowned British Colleges champions. Another amazing season for the RCT/ Caerphilly campus.
In Schools rugby, Pontypridd and Rhondda Schools under-15s reached the semi-final of the Dewar Shield whilst Cynon Valley under-15s shared the MG Plate after drawing 8-8 with Cardiff in the final.
Pontypridd took the National Sevens Championship at Llandovery recently going unbeaten throughout the day.
Pontypridd under-11s shared the Les Spence trophy with Cardiff after a draw at the Arms Park recently.
In the Blues Cup, both Pontypridd RFC under12s and under-14s were beaten finalists.