Four-try Will is star for Sarries Local rugby

AFTER struggling for a number of years, Dinas Powys are back on the way up and are enjoying life in One East Central after securing promotion in the summer.

Dinas Powys just beat Llantrisant to the Two East Central title last season, but have endured a mixed campaign so far.

They opened the season with a defeat to Rhiwbina, but bounced back to beat promotion partners Llantrisant. Since then, they’ve recorded four victories, three defeats and a draw and sit comfortably in mid-table.

And their 31-20 victory over Llanharan on Saturday made it three games unbeaten, their best run of the season so far.

James Wiltshire was at the double, while Rhys Evans and Darren Ryan, a summer acquisition from Glamorgan Wanderers, also went over.

“We have brought in Darren Ryan. He came through the Dinas youth system years ago and we just needed his experience to guide us,” said chairman Andrew Vesey.

“Being an ex-Dinas boy he said if we got up to Division One then he’d come across and help us.

“He’s made a massive impact, certainly from an attacking point of view.

“We were aiming for mid-table and we’re happy at the moment.

“We were unlucky against Treorchy, they scored in the last minute.

“There is a split in the table with the top six and the bottom six and we’re right in the middle of it, so I’m happy with that.”

The club’s pleasing start to life in Division One has ensured the good atmosphere around the club has remained, but things weren’t so positive a few years ago.

“There was a bit of a fall-out within the club and a few boys left,” he said.

“It put us back a few years and we struggled to survive. But we did and it’s all sorted now.”

Head coach John Dunleavy returned to the club three years ago and has masterminded their climb up to One East Central, picking up two league titles on the way.

“John Dunleavy came back on board and some boys came back with him,” said Vesey.

“With his experience and knowledge he is the one that has totally turned things around, along with the players.

“His work over the last three years has been absolutely phenomenal.

“We’ve got a young squad and 95 per cent have come through our mini system.

“I think we’ve managed to get where we are because they are all mates.

“They’ve grown up together, gone to school together and socialise together.”

With Dunleavy at the helm and the club heading back in right direction, Vesey was confident ahead of the new season, but has noticed a big difference in quality.

“It’s that next step, it’s bigger, stronger and quicker,” he said.

“This is the level we want to play at, though.

We enjoyed Division Two, it’s still a good standard. But the Division One standard is that much better. There is quite a gulf between the two to be fair.

“I think you come across ex-Premiership players and Championship players dropping down.

“If you make a mistake the better teams will score. It’s a bit like New Zealand, if they get a sniff they’ll score.” REJUVENATED Cardiff Saracens went top of Three East Central C after their five-star 31-7 home victory over Whitchurch at Roath Recreation Ground.

Will Whetstone, playing in the backrow, stole the show for the Saracens with a stunning four-try salvo, with centre Alex Holvey also crashing over the whitewash and scrum-half Bryn Wheeler converting three of the five tries.

It took Martin Hole’s side from third to first and meant they also took advantage of the fact both Glyncoch and St Albans – the top two heading into the weekend – had their respective matches postponed.

Having started the season with back-to-back defeats at home against Llanrumney and at St Albans, the victory over Whitchurch was a fifth on the bounce in the league for the Saracens – having also recorded wins over Brackla, CIACS, Cathays and Sully View.

They are now two points clear of Bryncoch and St Albans, but have played two games more than Bryncoch – who have won five out of five – and one game more than St Albans.

The Saracens are bidding to return to Three East Central B at the first time of asking having been relegated from that division, ironically along with St Albans, at the end of last season.

The last time the Saracens competed in the division they are in now – they were promoted from it as runners-up back in 2015/16.

“Our aim is to get promoted,” said Hole, who is in his second season as head coach.

“We were really competitive in the league above, but we just weren’t quite winning games.

“So, were a bit devastated to drop down and our aim for this season is to get back.”

Reflecting on the win over Whitchurch at the weekend, Hole said it was their most complete performance of the season so far.

“I’d say it probably was,” he continued.

“We’d played in patches in the other games, but I think what we brought on Saturday was a more consistent performance.

“In fairness, Whitchurch have improved a lot since we last played them and they’re probably a bit more competitive than the scoreline suggested.

“But our back-rower Will Whetstone, who took the man-of-the-match award, was brilliant; he played at six, but has all the skills. He could play any position.”

Along with match-winner Whetstone, Hole also picked out skipper and No.8 Rob Jones for his influence as a leader and consistent performances on the field this term.

Saracens’ run in this season’s WRU National Bowl ended at the first round stage as they went out 22-9 at Three East Central A outfit Llandaff North but, with five league victories under their belt, already have two more than they achieved in the entirety of last season.

Their next game is not until December 9 when they make the trip to Llandrindod Wells.

Hole added: “We were pretty rusty at the start of the season, losing our first two, but since then we’ve been building nicely.

“There’s obviously a bit of disruption now which is a shame because we were starting to build a bit of momentum.

“But our job now is to try and stay on the ball as much as we can ahead of a busy December.”