NORTH AND MID WALES RUGBY Issue 1 November 2016 Sponsored by WRU TROPHIES UPDATE North & Mid Wales WRU National Cup 28th January, 2017 Aberavon v Llandovery Bedlinog v Bargoed RUGBY Bedwas v Glamorgan Wanderers Cardiff v Tata Steel Welcome to the latest issue of the North & Mid Wales Rugby magazine. Cardiff Met v Pontypridd Carmarthen Quins v Newcastle Emlyn There’s so much going on, both on and off the field, in the vast re- Ebbw Vale v Skewen Glynneath v Cross Keys gion of North and Mid Wales that it is impossible, in one issue, to Llanelli v Pontypool cover everything, hence this issue is mainly a results and fixtures Merthyr v Newbridge special to let you know what’s in store for the rest of the season. Newport v Swansea RGC v Dunvant As you will see on the left, there are some fantastic games lined up for our clubs in the WRU Trophies and we wish them all the WRU Plate very best of luck. Round 3 Round 2 – 29 October RGC have made a fantastic start to the season and you can find 10 December 2016 Bethesda 11 v Rumney 29 all the match reports, along with features on new General Man- Abercarn v Llandudno Brynmawr 21 v Bala 20 ager Sion Jones, new Head Coach, Mark Jones and player/coach Blackwood v Rumney Llandudno 30 v Blaenavon 27 Brynmawr v Aberavon Quins Mold 18 v Bridgend Athletic 17 Phil John in this issue. We welcome them warmly and wish them Croesyceiliog v Kidwelly Nant Conwy 43 v Pontypool Utd 19 every success in their new roles. Gowerton v Abergavenny Nantyglo 0 v Builth Wells 35 Heol y Cyw v Trebanos Ruthin 14 v Aberavon Quins 27 A big thank you to Conwy Land Rover for their generous spon- Llanelli Wanderers v Pwllheli Ynysddu 21 v Pwllheli 37 Llanharan v Mold sors of the North Wales Cups and this magazine, it is very much Llanishen v Rhiwbina appreciated. Nant Conwy v Maesteg Quins Round 1 – 8 October Nelson v Cardiff Quins Builth W 22 v Gilfach Goch 17 Best wishes Old Illtydians v Dowlais Carm Ath18 v Aberystwyth 17 Penallta v Treorchy COBRA 7 v Bethesda 9 Gary Rhydyfelin v Ammanford Llandudno 56 v Bro Ffest 3 St Peters v Builth Wells Pwllheli 45 v Caernarfon 9 Email: [email protected] Ystalyfera v Mountain Ash Ruthin 66 v Colwyn Bay 21 Telephone: 07713 514 375 www.ovalzone.co.uk WRU Bowl Denbigh 27 v Crumlin 18 Gary Williams, Wylfa, Westwood Park, Welshpool, Powys SY21 7QP Flint 6 v Treherbert 18 LIKE TO ADVERTISE? - PLEASE RING 07713 514 375 Round 4 – 10 December Forgeside 16 v Newtown 23 Baglan v Trimsaran Llanidloes 18 v Machen 21 Bangor University v Wattstown Llantwit Major 26 v Llangefni 6 Betws v Cardigan Menai Bridge 19 v Trimsaran 23 Cambrian Welfare v Birchgrove Wrexham 19 v Trefil 6 Cilfynydd v Machen Denbigh v Tonyrefail Round 2 – 8th October Milford Haven v Nantgaredig Bangor 5 v Denbigh 62 Monmouth v Llantwit Major Dolgellau 11 v Llangefni 17 Nantyffyllon v Treharris Flint 17 v Harlech 15 Newport HSOB v Taffs Well Llanidloes 37 v Shotton Steel 17 Oakdale v Caerphilly Menai Bridge 82 v Rhos 18 St Albans v Amman United Trefyclawdd 5 v Crumlin 32 Swansea Uplands v New Dock Welshpool 20 v Bangor Univ 25 Stars Wrexham W/O v Rhyl Treherbert v Newtown Tylorstown v Burry Port Round 1 – 17 September Wrexham x Pontycymmer Cowbridge W/O v Llandrindod Llangollen 18 v Denbigh 36 Round 3 – 29 October Llanidloes W/O v Aberystwyth Uni Bangor University W/O v TSD Menai Bridge W/O v Holyhead Carmarthen Wrexham W/O v Machynlleth Clubs: got some news you’d like included in the next issue? Email to [email protected] PICTURES vided it, putting over a magnifi- Left: Representatives of Conwy cent penalty from the halfway Conwy Land Rover sponsor Land Rover and the North Wales line after half an hour, and then Rugby Council carry out the Draw. slotting over his second penalty three minutes later from 35m Bottom left: Action from the out to ease Dolgellau into a North Wales Cup Harlech v Dolgellau game 0-6 lead. However Harlech dominated the lattter stages Top right: NWRUC Secretary of the half and came close NW Rugby Council recently announced Conwy Land Barry Williams, presents Joe to crossing the whitewash Stranks, Welshpool RFC, with the through wing Gerallt Thomas Rover as new sponsors of the North Wales Cup. MOM award v Rhos and prop Eon Williams in the last seconds, only to be denied Conwy Land Rover has been unveiled as the Principal sponsor of the Centre right: Shane Maber, visit- by some brave defending by ing from New Zealand, presents prestigious North Wales Cup. Dolgellau, who duly lost prop James Price, Wrexham RFC, with Greg Smithies to a yellow card the MOM award v Llangollen. The announcement was made at the Conwy Land Rover, Llandudno Junction/or Parc on the half time whistle. Eirias Colwyn Bay as members of NWRUC were joined by representatives from various Bottom right: Hywel Roberts, Three minutes into the second local rugby clubs. NWRUC, presents Jamie Winning, period Harlech captain and Denbigh RFC, with the MOM no.8, Alex Evans put over a Conwy Land Rover’s partnership with NWRUC is the latest addition to the company’s award v Shotton Steel long standing support of community activities in the area. penalty to bring them right back into the game, but it was the The two-year deal is the first time Conwy Land Rover has directly supported the game visitors who then seized the The Draws were made as initiative. Prop, Geraint Evans in North and Mid Wales and is testament to its commitment to investing in rugby in the follows fledgling development rugby region. crossed for what looked to be a certain score, but the ref was North Wales Senior Cup unsighted, but they deserv- As part of the new partnership, Conwy Land Rover will be well placed to engage its East Division clients in the region with rugby and helping strengthen ties with the local community. edly went further ahead after Bala v Llandudno fifteen minutes. With Dolgellau Ruthin v Cobra pressing five meters out, scrum NWRUC Chairman Alwyn Bevan said: “Everyone in North Wales are excited by the new Byes Abergele, Colwyn Bay half, Jac Roberts released partnership with Conwy Land Rover and what the next two years has in store. his backs quickly, and a deft West Division side-step by full back, Gerwyn Conwy Land Rover has a history in supporting the community and its experience will be Pwllhelli v Nant Conwy Pugh, saw wing Rhys Lewis important in the continued development of rugby in the region.” Byes in at the corner for a fine and Bro Ffestiniog, Caernarfon, crucial try. Thomas converted Jason Ashley, Head of Business, Conwy Land Rover said: “Today’s announcement is Bethesda. magnificently to put the visitors not only an important addition to our growing sponsorship portfolio, but represents a 3-13 ahead. significant investment for community rugby in North Wales. North Wales Intermediate Cup Five minutes later it was “This partnership has offered us a fantastic opportunity to further strengthen our com- Harlech 3 v Dolgellau 25 full-back , Pugh’s chip ahead munity links in North and Mid Wales and engage our Land Rover owners who are also Llanidloes v Newtown that saw centre Dylan Evans rugby fans. We are excited by the ambitions for the future on and off the field, and look Welshpool 68 v Rhos 21 reclaim the ball on the home forward to the start of our partnership.” Rhyl v Flint try line, and hooker Gwion Bangor v Menai Bridge Roberts was there in good Denbigh 46 v Shotton 21 support to go over for the score NWRUC Chairman Alwyn Bevan said: “Everyone in North Wrexham 23 v Llangollen 17 to make it 3-18. With only two Wales are excited by the new partnership with Conwy Land Llangefni BYE minutes remaining ,Dolgellau lock Bryn Jones set up flanker, Rover and what the next two years has in store.” Dylan Llewelyn who wrong MATCH REPORTS footed the home cover to burst through under the posts. Harlech 3 v Dolgellau 25 Thomas converted to make the score 3-25 and seal an impres- Dolgellau are through to the sive victory for Dolgellau. second round of the North Wales Intermediate Cup, but it Match referee : Bobby Beach took a great try from left wing Rhys Lewis fifteen minutes into the second half to break Welshpool 68 v Rhos 21 Harlech’s dogged ressistance, in what was up to then, a full- 10-try romp sees ‘Pool through on, and at times, scrappy local to next round of North Wales derby encounter. Intermediate Cup The opening exchanges were Welshpool rebuilt their con- frantic, with both sides trying fidence after last weekend’s to run the ball, but with no real heavy defeat to Newtown with pattern emerging. The match a 10-try thrashing of Rhosllan- needed a calming hand, and erchrugog. Dolgellau stand-in skipper and stand-off, Gerwyn Thomas pro- Welshpool surged ahead to a 28-0 lead courtesy of tries from and centre Dylan Walton, giv- Conwy Land Rover North Wales Tom Williams, Tom Holloway, ing Welshpool a second record Intermediate Cup Match Report Ryan Goodwin and Paul Dav- victory of the season over their ies, along with four conversions visitors. from Williams, before allowing Denbigh 46 v Shotton Steel 21 Rhos to get themselves onto Welshpool: Ryan Manuel, Ally Dinbych carried their good cup form into this domestic competition the scoreboard with a score of Evans, Jamie Evans, Sam with an emphatic victory over Division Two North East pacesetters their own.