The WRU Cup competitions, designed to re-introduce the game to a nation that had spent more than 500 days wondering when they might be able to play again, turned into a real celebration as teams at all levels and both sexes got back in the groove.
“I have to admit I was a bit nervous in the build-up to the opening weekend,” admitted WRU Community director of rugby, Geraint John, “but from what I experienced at Porthcawl it turned into a wonderful exercise.
“Skewen came to Porthcawl and won on the scoreboard, but it wasn’t a day about winners and losers. It was a day when the Welsh rugby family reunited both on the field and off.
“We lost a few fixtures to COVID and a few other complications, but the vast majority of matches were played. As a first step back into playing I don’t think we could have wished for much more.
“It was great to witness first-hand what is going on at Porthcawl. They’ve been having 40 players at training and are thinking about starting a 2nd XV and want to establish an U18 girl’s team.
“There were a few clubs who wanted to get back into full blown league fixtures straightaway, but I think our measured approach has been the right one. Everyone needs to ease their way back into playing and we will be closely monitoring the numbers of games being played, and clubs who maybe struggling, as we go deeper into the current cup competitions.”
Two penalties from Steffan Jones enabled Bargoed to launch their WRU Championship Cup campaign with a 13-7 home win over Bedwas. Jones hit the mark in the 30th and 65th minutes and there was also an early penalty try for the victors. Bedwas replied with a try by scrum half Rhys Harris that was converted by Dion McIntosh.
Bargoed were able to field three teams on the day competitive rugby returned to Wales. Their youth team triumphed 46-0 against Senghennydd and their 2nd XV played at Brecon.
Among those teams unable to meet their commitments on the opening day were Tata Steel, who left Neath waiting for another week to officially kick-off their 150th anniversary season. Tata pulled out of their match due to lack of numbers, while Beddau were hit by a COVID case and had to sit out their game against Ystrad Rhondda.
Llanharan players celebrate a narrow win at the final whistle against Pentyrch
There were no problems at the Memorial Ground in Ely, where Glamorgan Wanderers pipped Cardiff Met 25-21. Both teams were full of young players, with the Wanderers including 12 players who were playing in the most recent WRU Schools & Colleges League campaign, while the students had 11 players making their debuts.
Prop Eddie Drake went over from a driving maul to give the home side the lead, but the students conjured up two converted tries to reach the break with a 14-5 lead.
Josh Male crashed over at the posts for a try that Callum Bricknell converted to cut the gap to two points. The Wanderers kept their foot on the gas and a clever cross kick from Bricknell to James Loxton out wide allowed the former Wales U20 wing to gather the ball and put Will Adams-Jones over in the corner.
Bricknell converted and the Wanderers were finally ahead, 19-14. The lead didn’t last long, though, as the visitors attacked from the re-start and created a third try that as converted off the touchline to make it 21-19 as the game entered the final quarter.
As the stakes rose, and tempers frayed, the students conceded two yellow cards. Bricknell punished them even more with two penalties that earned his side a 25-21 triumph.
“It was another step in the right direction for our young side. Confidence is growing and combinations are starting to come together, but game management is something we will have to look at in the cold light of the day,” admitted Wanderers head coach Martyn Fowler.
The opening weekend of action proved a major success on and off the pitch (Pic: Simon Latham)
There were also matches in the Plate, Bowl and Shield. Pill Harriers pipped Oakdale 19-18 and Abergavenny had an impressive 31-22 triumph at Blackwood. All matches at this stage are local and in Cardiff, Rumney used home advantage to triumph 26-20 Over Rhiwbina and St Joseph’s earned bragging rights over deadly rival St Peter’s 26-8.
Barry posted a big 34-28 home win over Dinas Powys, while in Gwent, Caldicot beat Caerleon 17-11 and Croesyceiliog held on to pip Cwmbran 11-8.
In the North, Nant Conwy were among the highest scorers of the day with a 69-7 win at Denbigh, while Llandudno beat Ruthin 23-15. Bro Ffestiniog edged Dolgellau 12-11 and there were further home wins for Caernarvon against Pwllheli (55-6) and Bethesda against Llangefni (19-12).
But arguably the best story of the day came at Hendy, where visiting Pontarddulais found themselves playing against a double World Cup winner. Ben Franks, the Scarlets scrum coach, lives in Hendy and was registered in time to have a run-out. The now 37-year-old prop opted to play at No 8 and delighted in helping his side to a 22-13 win in the Plate Competition.
It turned into quite a day for the Hendy club as not only did they welcome a World Cup winner into their playing ranks, they were able to pack the clubhouse after the game and cheer on one of their own in Josh Adams as he made his British & Irish Lions Test debut against the Springboks.
Pentyrch welcomed Llanharan for their first round clash and took an early lead through a try by Ollie Joyce that Rhys Lynch improved. It was 7-7 at the break after the visitors hit back with the first of their three tries.
David Jones grabbed a second for the ‘Tyrchs, which Lynch again converted, but Llanharan proved too strong in the end and two more tries earned them the victory, 19-14.
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