Quins’ first points of the day came from Hannah Szigetvari, who had an outstanding game in both attack and defence. In only the second minute, lock Anwen Hopkins showed real pace to release Szigetvari for the first of her two tries of the day. Her second, an individual effort, came just two minutes later as she took the ball on the Quins line, drew in the Waunarlwydd defence and sprinted the full length of the pitch to cross under the posts. Full back Jilly Holroyd converted to bring the score to 12-0.
Another two tries came in the first half, with Jilly Holroyd running in from distance and Nadine Griffiths ripping the ball from Waunarlwydd hands on the line and pouncing over.
Waunarlwydd continued to battle in every part of the park and were very unlucky to have a close range effort denied by a held-up verdict shortly before half time. Buoyed by the denial before the break, Waunarlwydd took control from the restart and applied pressure to the Quins defence. Yet again, they were starved of reward through a solid defensive line.
The result was put beyond doubt as Quins brought in the final five points through another Jilly Holroyd try.
Following the earlier downpour, the sun came out for Llandaff North’s defence of their National Cup title, but it was Tylorstown that it shone on 80 minutes later.
Tylorstown took control from the outset, applying consistent pressure to the Llandaff North tryline. Caroline O’Keefe and Louise Daniels both had sniffs of the line before Jamie Kift finally broke over in the 22nd minute. Llandaff North’s Vicci McGrath charged down Kristy Thomas’ conversion attempt. Naomi Thomas added seven points just moments later, ghosting through the North defence and converting her effort.
Not content to let Tylorstown have all the spoils, Paula Mullen sat neatly in the pocket to slot over a drop-goal and North’s only points of the day.
After the break Tyly continued to keep the foot on the throttle, adding another 12 points through tries from Louise Daniels and Sam Moss and the boot of Kristy Thomas. With a final score of 24-3, Tylorstown brought an end to Llandaff North’s unbeaten record since the inception of the National Cup.
To add to the historic nature of the game, ex-International referee David R. Davies officiated the fixture to make it the first Welsh women’s club game to be refereed by a top level match official. Thanks go to David, Martyn Edwards, Alan Sheppard and Steve O’Riley for officiating the fixtures.
A minute’s silence was observed prior to both games in memory of Rachel Davies, a former Captain of Wales U16s, who tragically passed away last week aged just 19.
