Welsh clubs turn to DIY as they mark ‘title’ successes

MOUNTAIN Ash adapted an old darts trophy and Llandudno reused their 2019 league title glass bowl as clubs around Wales continued to improvise at the end of the season to mark their achievement in coming out on top in the Admiral Leagues.

Championship winners Bargoed set the tone when they made their own banner and used an old trophy to mark their success in getting into an unbeatable position in the Championship, despite not completing all the fixtures.

The WRU indicated at the start of the season there would be no promotion or relegation in a campaign dedicated to getting clubs back into action after Covid restrictions were lifted, but the way everything ended left many bemused.

Many clubs have refused to complete their seasons, citing cost and availability issues, yet many divisions across the country have played to a point where a winner can be established.

“We took a commonsense approach in North Wales over unfinished games. Other clubs didn’t want to complete the season, so we rang Nant Conwy, who were top, and Bala, who came to play us in their last game, and decided that the champions would be declared after our game,” said Llandudno chairman Robbie Shields.

“Nant were top, we were unbeaten in second place and Bala could have finished third. In the absence of anyone letting us know how or if a winner would be declared, we mutually agreed that Nant would be champions if we lost, and we would be if we won.

“This is our 70th anniversary season and when the WRU ended the season in 2019-20 due to Covid we had won 15 games in a row and we were on our way to defending our title.

“No winners were declared then and we felt the players deserved something to show for their efforts through another difficult season.

“After we won, I took out the old trophy we were presented with in 2019 and re-presented it to the team.

“I just hope we are given another one for this season’s effort.

“It often seems to us that nobody really cares about rugby in North Wales.”

The Goats easily came out on top against Bala, scoring seven tries in a 37-12 home win. Scrumhalf Byron Davies got two and kicked a conversion. Connor Harding also bagged a brace.

The other tries came from Delwyn Jones, Lloyd Evans and Brian Pike.

Llangennech finished top of One West thanks to a 36-22 win at Aberystwyth. That took them two points above unbeaten Newcastle Emlyn having played one game more.

They picked up a bonus point with a penalty try as they outscored the home side by four tries to three. Centre Ryan Nunes, lock Sam Melmoth and No. 8 Craig Thomas got the other tries and Osian Evans kicked 14 points.

Having lost their only league game 29-20 at Newcastle Emlyn, they will look to gain some revenge in the West Wales Cup final on Saturday when they meet them again.

Mountain Ash made it a perfect 10 out of 10 in One East Central as they beat title rivals Treorchy 23-8.

A crowd of almost 500 watched the battle of the two unbeaten teams in the league and they were rewarded with a full-blooded affair in which two interception tries from the hosts turned the game on its head.

Mountain Ash secretary Mark Bennett ensured there was something to give to his players by taking an old darts trophy off a club shelf to mark a significant moment in the club’s history.

Fly-half Callum Hall got them off the mark and then converted the first of two breakaway tries as wing Declan Conway picked off an interception from just inside his own half.

Liam Lloyd kicked a first-half penalty for Treorchy and Hall added a second to make it 13-3 at the break.

In the second half, home fullback Jarrod Cushion raced in from 70 metres after intercepting a wayward pass and Hall’s conversion and third penalty completed Ash’s scoring.

Treorchy grabbed a consolation try from Ellis Fackrell.