Llandudno win Division Two North Title

Two years after being relegated from the SWALEC Division 1 North, Llandudno RFC have bounced back clinching the SWALEC Division 2 North trophy. The squad were presented with their trophy at the club’s annual Welly Day – a Junior Rugby Tournament organised by the club – on Saturday 10th May 2014. 

What a difference a year makes for the club who were last season struggling to make an impact and finding their feet after being relegated from North Wales’ top division.


Since then with a new coaching staff and ethos, Llandudno RFC have won the league and reached the semi-final of the SWALEC Bowl before missing out on a place in the final at the Millennium Stadium to Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd. Llandudno RFC also beat Rhyl 32 – 7 to claim The Intermediate Cup.


Llandudno RFC Head Coach, Jason Roberts said: “Winning the title today is a fantastic achievement – we are a team of young lads with an average age of 24, and it is the first proper season for this squad. I am really proud. The training has really made a difference – there is a great team spirit, with the lads wanting to train and that has shown on the pitch and in the year-end results. We have loads of standout players, and a great spread of 25 players who have scored tries.


“We are producing a lot of good players who have been taken by Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC), the regional side. It is fantastic for the club to be part of that, but it means we are always filling those gaps. Looking at next season, I am confident if the lads train that we will be a team that performs very, very well, and can certainly aim for a top six finish – it is up to the boys!”


Llandudno RFC Club Captain, Ian Williams added: “It is absolutely brilliant to win today – a great team effort. Everyone turned up to train, and the fantastic management and coaching has made a big difference. Rugby creates a great camaraderie, it brings everyone together, and we have a fantastic time both on and off the pitch. For next season, we will see what the competition brings, but we will be giving it 100%, so watch out!”

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High-scoring rugby on display in Swalec leagues

There were some one-sided results throughout the Swalec leagues on Saturday (February 16), as a busy program could take place for the first time in weeks thanks to an upturn in the weather and the lack of Six Nations action.

In the Championship, it was defeat once more for Pontypool and Whitland, with the former downed at home against Newbridge, and the latter losing at near-neighbours Narberth.

Pontypool allowed Newbridge to cross their try line five times in a 33-5 defeat - Ryan Lee, Dwayne Dyer, Stuart Davies, Stefan Morgan and Jordan Richard all scoring. Ponty’s sole reply came from Luke Dickov, in what was their 16^th defeat in 17 league games this season.

Whitland twice took the lead at Narberth, but the boot of James Russell won it for the Otters 19-13. He kicked three penalties and converted Steve Martin’s try, while Scott Newton kicked two penalties and converted a Daffydd Williams try for the Borderers in what was the away side’s 14^th defeat of the season.

Elsewhere, Cardiff Met ran out 22-3 winners over Bridgend Athletic to cement third place in the table, with No8 Sam Cross grabbing two scores. A Steve Lewis penalty was all the Athletic responded with.

In Division One West, leaders Tondu ran out 27-3 winners at bottom club Aberavon Quins. They scored three tries through Nick Hopson, Matthew Phillips and Darren Thomas, while Paul Smithson converted all three and added two penalties.

Waunarlwydd in third closed the gap on second-placed Cwmllynfell with a 41-20 win over Ammanford, running in six tries.

In Division One East, Merthyr hammered bottom club Tredegar 62-0, with 11 tries scored in the process. Matthew Trowbridge grabbed a hat-trick and Jason Price and Arron Howard both crossed for braces. Josh Slye, John Chivers, Jason Pritchard and Lloyd Wood completed the rout, which was only Merthyr’s third win of the season and moved them above Mountain Ash in the table.

This was due to the Old Firm also falling to a heavy defeat, going down 51-17 at Rumney. The hosts ran in six tries, including a hat-trick for Tom Silver, in a game delayed for half an hour due to a bad injury to a Mountain Ash player. Wayne de Crue, Danny Clarke and Carl Fish also crossed for Rumney.

Some of the larger victories, other than Merthyr’s and Rumney’s, came further down the league pyramid.

In Division Two North, second placed COBRA picked up a 64-9 victory at Rhyl, running in six tries in the process, while in Two East, Fleur De Lys matched COBRA’s try-scoring exploits with six of their own in a 54-6 victory over Abercynon in a victory that moves them six points ahead of their opponents in the table.

The biggest win of the day went to Wrexham in Three North - the leaders ran in an impressive 20 tries and 10 conversions in a 120-0 thrashing of bottom club Holyhead.

Jonny Davies crossed for four and Andrew Clutton grabbed three. There were also braces for Kieron Morris and Jack Ratcliffe, while Jake Edwards, Rob Moore, Tom Crawford, Jamie Morris, Leighton Cox, James Price, Peter Doogan and Ben Cheesborough got the others.

Price kicked nine of the conversions for a personal points tally of 23, and Gavin Jones kicked the 10th.

The win sees Wrexham five points clear of Rhosllanerchrugog in second, while Holyhead remain rooted to the bottom of the table with 12 defeats from 12 matches.

Three South East leaders Dowlais won 41-13 away at Cardiff Quins, with Lloyd Morgan notching three of their six tries. Lloyd Hines, Christian Owen and Tom Griffin grabbed the others. Three East’s top side Newport HSOB ran in nine tries in a 57-12 win at Croesyceiliog.

Three West side Llanelli Wanderers ran in nine tries in a 53-20 win over second from bottom Milford Haven, with full back Nick Gale scoring a hat-trick. In Four East, Cwmbran hammered struggling Machen 49-0 with tries from Dai Thomas, Mike Davies (two), Michael Lang and Luke Brown, while Chepstow ran in eight tries in a 50-3 win over troubled Blaina.

Three South West leaders Trebanos ran out 41-7 winners over Resolven, where they scored seven tries, including a brace for Matthew Edwards. Rhodri Williams, Ross Jones, Rhys Thomas, Nick Danjanovic and Chris Jones grabbed the others.

Bryncoch bettered that result, winning 66-10 over basement side Aberavon Green Stars, running in 10 tries in the process. It was the visitors’ 13^th defeat in 14 games.

Dinas Powys notched 10 tries in a 69-0 win over Tonna in Five South Central. John Evans crossed for four tries, while David Lloyd, Gareth Williams, James Smith and Nathan Williams also scored.

Finally, in Six East, Girling also ran in 10 tries in a 73-10 win over bottom club Cwmcarn. Andy Bates and Dan Tucker each scored a brace, and Dan Howells, Adran Smith, Kyle King, Dion Perry, Grant Harrington and a penalty try added to the score.

Trefil also won 74-0 at Malpas in the same division, running in 10 tries of their own.

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Flower power can't stop Rhiwbina closing the gap on Unicorns

Swalec Leagues Division Two and Three weekend review

WITH Nelson out of action yesterday, Rhiwbina seized the chance to close the gap on the Two East frontrunners by beating Fleur de Lys 22-17 in the Rhymney Valley.

Jake Chilcott’s boot did most of the damage for Rhiwbina as his five penalties and conversion of Chris Fido’s try saw the Cardiff club reduce Nelson’s lead to two points.

Flower fly-half Adam Greendale kept the hosts in it with four penalties and Ieuan Sims’ try earned his side a losing bonus point.

Senghenydd suffered the ignominy of being nilled by Bedlinog at the Recreation Ground as the Foxes devoured their opponents in style. Tom Hiscocks crossed the whitewash twice and Leon Rees added a third.

Ben Grzesica and Ian Smerdon kicked the rest of the points and the only thing missing for the hosts was an extra bonus point. Gavin Teague and Nathan Touhig touched down for Garndiffaith in their 23-9 victory against Abercynon.

The big derby clash in Two West was keenly-fought but in the end it was Maesteg Quins who came out on top, 21-16, against rivals Maesteg.

Tries from Owen Richards and Kyle Blackmore, two penalties and a conversion from Nathan Smith and a Gareth Lewis drop-goal did it for Quins while Jordan Skidmore got Maesteg’s only try.

Builth Wells remain out in front after a 15-3 victory over Aberystwyth courtesy of tries for Ben Pugh and Luke Murray. Daniel Challenger and Dan Hooper were in the tries for Seven Sisters as they walloped Penclawdd 40-13 to stay hot on the heels of the leaders.

The top three in Two North all won but it was Shotton Steel with a 52-15 demolition of bottom club Machynlleth who were the highest scorers in the division this weekend.

Dan and Adam Lynskey (2), John Ketland, Steve Elllsom, Karl Rusowicz and Darren Leach were Steel’s try getters while Ellsom also converted six of the eight tries. David Davies grabbed a brace for Llandudno in their 29-5 bonus-point success at home to Colwyn Bay.

With Welshpool without a game, Newtown leapt into first place in Three North thanks to a seven-try romp against Bangor. Joe Murray (2), Rowan Meek (2), Junior Dean, Ashley Evans and Nathan Owen crossed the whitewash and Chris Jones kicked the rest of the points.

There was some joy at last for Holyhead as they picked up their first point of the season – albeit a losing one – from a 20-16 reverse at Benllech. Osian and Shaun Roberts went over for the hosts and John Snowden slotted both conversions and a couple of penalties. Aaron Edwards scored all of Holyhead’s points.

Josh Francis was Wrexham’s hat-trick hero in their 27-7 defeat of Harlech and Rhosllanerchrugog beat Flint 19-12 with two tries for Dewi Richards and one for Matt Whitley.

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Swalec League Round Up

Rhiwbina convincingly beat visiting Rhymney at Parc Caedelyn by 43-12 in Two East, scoring five tries in the process.

Pat Murphy scored the Squirrels’ only first half try, while Grant Fitzgerald kicked three penalties as he made the visitors' indiscipline pay to lead 14-0 at the break. Fitzgerald continued his fine form with the boot adding another penalty before Greg Plant crossed for Rhymney, but there then came a delay after Rhymney hooker Sean Murphy had to be helped from the field with a dislocated elbow.

With no more front row replacements, the referee was forced to call passive scrums, although this didn't adversely affect the rhythm of the match and Squirrels skipper Nick Howell scored two tries, the second of which a superb individual effort from inside his own half, while ever-reliable Richard Saltmarsh burst through under the posts, and the scoring was completed by a typical Dan Murphy try.

In the battle at the bottom, two tries from wing Lewis Rigby helped Abercynon to a 29-10 home win over Fleur de Lys. At the other end of the table, Nelson picked up their fifth win with a 43-20 success at Garndiffaith.

Highfliers Llandudno edged out Two North title rivals COBRA 18-17. James Gregson and Ed Weston crossed for Llandudno, with Luke Jones adding two crucial penalties and a conversion.

It seems like defeats for Maesteg Quins come around like buses as the Llynfi Valley side were unbeaten in the league for the best part of three seasons before last week, and suffered their second loss in as many games in Two West as they lost out 25-14 at Aberystwyth.

Aber were awarded a penalty try, while Geraint Rowlands and Paul Bunford touched down for the hosts, as Owain Owen added two conversions and two penalties.

Builth Wells are now the new leaders in the division after former pacemakers Maesteg crashed to a 36-10 loss at Felinfoel, the Bulls capitalising in their 15-7 win over Dunvant at Broadacre, with tries from Dean Jones and Andrew Duggan.

Abertillery BG were far too strong for visiting Gwernyfed in Three East with the hosts notching up a 38-6 victory.

Chris Stevens was the hero of the day for the hosts amassing 15 points through a try and five conversions.

Pontypool United remain top of the table thanks to a 24-11 home triumph over Croesyceiliog. Luke Palmer, Rob Grey and Scott Malson all touching down for United.

Meanwhile, Caerphilly claimed their fifth win seeing off Brynmawr 16-10. The Cheesemen’s only try of the match came through Lloyd Summers while Sam Wollat struck three penalties and a conversion.

Llanelli Wanderers returned to winning ways in Three West at Cardigan with a bonus point 33-6 triumph, while Amman United remain top thanks to their 41-21 home success over Gorseinon, with Jonny Bevan getting three of his side's seven tries.

Tenby were the big winners of the day as they ran in nine tries to ruthlessly dispatch Lampeter 59-0, Smith brothers Toby (2) and Sam were amongst the tries for the hosts.

Pencoed picked up their maiden win in Three South West as they bagged a 31-13 home success over Resolven. The hosts were awarded a penalty try while Glen Hiscocks, Gareth Prentie and Daniel Howells touched down.

Penlan are continuing to run riot in Four South West as the Swansea side brushed aside Cefn Cribbwr 43-7. The Swansea side ran in seven tries with Dafydd Pritchard, Steven Williams and Bobby Scrine amongst the tries.

Early pacemakers New Tredegar continue to rack up the tries in Four East as they put Hafodyrynys to the sword with a 53-27 triumph.

The Newts were in seventh heaven as centre Ricky Hawkins claimed a hat-trick, wing Rhys Walbeof bagged a brace, while Josh Matthews and Gavin Stockman also went over.

It remains nip and tuck at the top of Five South Central with both Glyncoch and Porthcawl grabbing big wins.

The Glyncs easily dispatched Ferndale 60-3 with Anthony John claiming a hat-trick, while Swalec Bowl hero Shaun Baggs crossed for a double. Porthcawl meanwhile helped themselves to nine tries at Blaengarw as they triumphed 59-10, Neil Nutman, Ben Clarke and Dnny Shaw all getting braces for the Seasiders.

Finally in Division Seven, Aberbeeg looked impressive as ever as they saw off Newbridge United 42-17, Gareth Bevan, Gavin Hillier, Anthony Jones, Keiron Gingell, Craig Llewellyn and Adam Puddy all going over for the highfliers.

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Four-try Pitmen round off season in style

THEY may have lost out on the Division Two East title to Ystrad Rhondda, but Penallta, who won the Swalec Plate last Monday, made sure they ended the season in style by beating Bedlinog 31-18.

In the end, the Pitmen finished just four points behind the champions and used Saturday’s match against the Foxes to celebrate their trophy-winning season.

They scored four tries in all, with two for Aron Humphries and one each for Lee Thomas and Rhys Silcox, while Bedlinog replied with a couple of their own in what has been a disappointing campaign for them.

Jonny Wright also kicked four conversions and a penalty for an 11-point haul, all of this coming after the Pitmen defeated Nant Conwy at the Millennium Stadium on bank holiday Monday.

While Penallta and Bedlinog brought the curtain down on the Two East season, Rhyl and Wrexham were doing likewise in Two North though only one of those clubs was in party mood by the end of the encounter.

Rhyl ran in 13 tries in a 77-0 thumping of a side that, as a result of the thrashing, lost all 18 league games this term and finished rock bottom of the table with a measly three points.

The win pushed Rhyl above Colwyn Bay into third place with 11 victories, one draw and six losses from their fixtures.

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