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THE feel-good factor continues at Cilfynydd who could mark their 125th anniversary with back-to-back promotions.
This time last year Cil were playing in Three East Central A but, currently top of the pile in Two East Central, the village club near Pontypridd might well be playing Division One rugby next season if things go their way.
“It’s an exciting time at the moment,” said proud club president Roy Hope – who himself has a long association with Cilfynydd going right back to his days as a ball boy.
Stalwart Hope also spent a decade playing as a centre at Pontypridd before returning to the village where he played for many years before also serving as chairman as well as becoming a referee.
He continued: “Obviously we’ve had bad times in the past and it’s been up and down but, as a village club, it tends to be like that.
“We’ve got things planned for the summer; we’ve got our 125th anniversary dinner in June and, with six games left to play, we are looking to go up to the first division – which would be really nice.”
Having been promoted as runnersup to Cambrian Welfare last season, the Bumbles have adapted well to Division Two rugby, winning 12 of their 16 matches this season.
They have a 12 and 13-point advantage over over Cambrian and Barry respectively but those two chasing sides do have three games in hand.
Gilfach Goch will also have their eyes set on toppling Cil as, despite being 16 points back, do have five games in hand – with only two promotion spots up for grabs.
And Aberdare, despite losing their last four, are 19 points behind Cil with three games in hand.
“It’s a slightly false position at the moment because those clubs have the games in hand,” said Hope.
“But we’ve got the points in the bag and we would rather be in this position than having to play 10 or 11 games like some clubs have.
“I believe our aim before the season started was to be competitive in the second division, so we’ve gone beyond that, having performed really well.”
It hasn’t all been plain sailing, though. They were thumped 56-0 at Cambrian in their first away match back in September while also slipped up at Penarth and were then beaten again by Cambrian on home turf.
Hope said: “We’ve had a couple of poor defeats against Cambrian so obviously that brings us back down to earth with a bump!
“We struggle when we are minus two or three of our better players and that’s where we could struggle possibly in the first division.
“Like all clubs, I suppose we do rely on three or four of our best players to keep us where we are.”
Hope picked out the 17-9 win over Gilfach back on November 18 as the standout performance so far while also praised centre and captain Garan Pearce for his influence.
He also hailed Cil’s back-row trio of openside Luke Riley, No.8 Arron Atkin and blindside Lewis Meecham as the “best in the second division.”
With trips to Gilfach, Aberdare and two games against Barry among their final six games, it could be an exciting and tense end to the season for Cil – who will also have an eye on their rivals.