Issue 15 13 Sept 2013.Indd
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Oval Zone The rugby magazine for North and Mid Wales - Issue 15, September 13th, 2013 All the latest rugby news and views from North and Mid Wales 181-0 - time for a rethink? PICTURE PARADE Thanks to John Palmer (Ruthin), Alan Skeates (RGC) and Lynne Owen (COBRA) Fixtures for Saturday, 14th September, 2013 The Oval Zone If you see any errors or know of any games missing/postponed The rugby magazine for North and Mid Wales etc please either email the details to [email protected], text to 07713 514375 or tweet to @midwalesrugby - many thanks - Issue 15, September 13th, 2013 ***** So how was it for you? The fi rst weekend of the season has WRU Championship come and gone and already some clubs will have laid down a Narberth v RGC 1404 marker for the season while others are already feeling a little apprehensive. WRU Division 1 West Builth Wells v Ammanford There was a great start for the two new boys in Division One with both COBRA and Denbigh taking notable scalps. WRU Division 2 West Maesteg v Aberystwyth As we know, the talking point of the weekend though was that 181-0 scoreline at Llanidloes against Holyhead. In fact, it gave WRU Division One North the possible demise of the Heineken Cup a run for it’s money Bethesda v COBRA as the most talked about rugby story of the week. I’m sure we Caernarfon v Bala - POSTPONED all feel for Holyhead and most of us will have played in a team Bro Ffestiniog v Dolgellau which had a very big thrashing at some point (114 was the high- Pwllheli v Nant Conwy est for me, Welshpool 2nds v Telford 2nds a zillion years ago) Ruthin v Denbigh and it’s not nice. WRU Division Two North In this week’s Oval Zone we take a look in-depth at the 181-0 Colwyn Bay v Rhyl score and ask if it’s time for a re-think. As always, if you have Llangefni v Shotton Steel a view you’d like to share on this, or any other subject, please Machynlleth v Abergele drop me a line. Newtown v Mold Wrexham v Llandudno Some good news this week with the announcement that another international match is coming to Parc Eirias when Japan take on WRU Division Three North Russia. It’s especially signifi cant for me because it allows me to Bangor v Bangor University use the four or fi ve words of Japanese that I learnt on the recent Flint v Llanidloes Wales tour! Harlech v Benllech Holyhead v Llangollen 3pm KO Earlier this week the Annual General Meeting for District J was Menai Bridge v Rhosllanerchrugog held, chaired by the great Gerald Davies and next week’s issue Welshpool v Porthmadog - 12 noon kick-off will give a report of how the meeting went. WRU Division 6 East If you read on to the fi nal couple of pages of this issue, you will Crickhowell v Trinant see that I have included a list of Secretaries and Fixture Sec- Hollybush v Rhayader retaries for all the clubs of Mid and North Wales. Please, if you Llandrindod Wells v Aberbeeg see any errors or can fi ll in any of the gaps, please let me know. We’re just trying to make it easy for clubs to contact each other WRU Division One Youth North Wales and get hold of the correct person. I’ll include it for the next Bangor v Llangefni couple of issues and then send a copy to the WRU so that they Denbigh v Nant Conwy can update their records. Mold v Caernarfon Pwllheli v COBRA - POSTPONED As I tap this intro piece out at 7.00am on Saturday morning, Wrexham v Ruthin spare a thought for the RGC boys, probably already on their way to play Narberth. Best of luck boys. WRU Division Two Youth North Wales Bro Ffestiniog v Holyhead Gary Colwyn Bay v Llanidloes Dolgellau v Flint Editors: Gary Williams/Barry Williams Llandudno v Welshpool Email: [email protected] Rhyl and District v Newtown - POSTPONED Shotton Steel v Abergele www.nwru.co.uk North East Counties League Colwyn Bay 2nds v Flint 2nds www.midwalesrugby.com Mold 2nds v COBRA 2nds - POSTPONED Rhos 2nds v Abergele 2nds Rhyl 2nds v Wrexham 2nds Twitter: please follow us @ovalzonerugby Shotton 2nds v Llandudno 2nds Welshpool 2nds v Mold 3rds www.ovalzone.co.uk Gwynedd/North Wales 2nds League Bethesda 2nds v Llangefni 2nds Caernarfon 2nd v Bala 2nds COVER PICTURES REQUIRED Dolgellau 2nds v Bro Ffestiniog 2nds Pwllheli 2nds v Nant Conwy 2nds We’re always on the lookout for that special pic for Ruthin 2nds v Denbigh 2nds the front cover, so if you have something we could Next week’s edition of The Oval Zone will include the full season’s use please send it in to [email protected] fi x ture list for all the above Divisions RGC NEWS RUGBY supremo Damian McGrath hailed the tremendous character shown by RGC on their Swalec Championship debut as they gave current title holders Ebbw Vale a real run for their money at Parc Eirias on Saturday. NW rugby development manager McGrath was especially impressed at how RGC overcame a nervous open- ing 40 minutes to rally strongly in the second half and produce a more than respectable fi nal score. “We played one of the best club sides RGC 16 v Ebbw Vale 31 in the country and the second half showed the true RGC,” said the former Rain was falling heavily which also and a charged-down kick, with Afon However, Ebbw Vale and RGC were Batley rugby league player and ex- led to some handling issues for both Bagshaw picking up and running under reduced to 14 men each with Carlton- Leeds Rhinos and international rugby sides which interrupted any fl ow to the posts to a huge Eirias cheers. Jones being yellow carded before Hay- union coach. the game. The busiest man on the Carlton-Jones added the conversion to mond landed a huge penalty. The lead fi e ld was the referee, who blew up at bring RGC within fi ve points. was extended with a penalty try and a “They are a big powerful side and we most scrums, mainly in favour of the conversion with home skipper Kelvin started in awe of them but we came Blaenau Gwent visitors. The Gogs started to show the style of Davies later being sin-binned. back strong, which is great to see. play that the home crowd have been The power and experience of the used to as they looked to push on for Report by North Wales Daily Post “We have key players to come back Ebbw Vale forwards started to show the levelling try. Pictures by Alan Skeates in and add them to that performance and the fi rst try came after pressure in then we should compete at the level the corner with Cameron Regan scor- needed.” ing and Haymond adding the extras. Last season’s WRU Division One East Carlton-Jones landed another penalty champions RGC had nine teenagers, for the hosts before another powerful eight academy graduates and only try arrived from the Vale, who after four three players aged 25 or over in their scrums in a row scored through Spen- squad, which once again shows the cer Gibson as half time approached. future of North Wales rugby is looking The interval arrived with the travellers good. 21-9 to the good. The 2012/13 runaway Champion- In the second period RGC came ship winners Ebbw Vale opened the out with some real intent and were scoring with a penalty after a couple going through the phases with quick of minutes, Dan Haymond slotting the hands and good running, but came up three points. against a strong and disciplined Ebbw Vale defence. The boot of both kickers was to feature heavily in the fi rst half with Rhodri The experience of a team that won Carlton-Jones and Haymond swapping this league by a huge margin last points at regular intervals, making the season was truly evident. However, score 9-6 to the Steelmen after 24 RGC scored their fi rst Champion- minutes. ship try after some great pressure RGC NEWS 7th September RGC v Ebbw Vale view from the vale Tata Steel v Tondu Bonymaen v Narberth Beddau v Pontypool The following article is repro- Very few supporters of Ebbw and Cunliffe who scored his usual try Llanharan v Cardiff Met duced by kind permission of Bargoed will miss Saturday’s in unusual conditions presaged Bridgend Athletic v Blackwood Ebbw Vale RFC game at ECP, we return from a hectic fi nal quarter but our Bargoed v Newbridge the north with a decent win, they defence held Bargoed at bay. 10- SOUTHERN COMFORT make a short journey after beat- 3 doesn’t sound like a thriller but 14th September Last week’s comments were ing Newbridge 21-0. it was and was described on our Newbridge v Tata Steel headed “Northern Exposure” website as “full-blooded, passion- Narberth v RGC but it created ripples of concern The scene is set for one of the ate rugby,” Tondu v Beddau in Ebbw Vale society especially most important fi xtures of this Cardiff Met v Bonymaen among Baptists. They interpreted or any season in the last three November 3rd 2012 was the Pontypool v Bridgend Athletic ‘exposure’ in the way the media years. turning point for we went on to Blackwood v Llanharan Ebbw Vale v Bargoed knows it, scandal and skeletons win the next sixteen Champion- coming out of cupboards.