Then the girls will take centre stage on Sunday for Round 3 of this year’s ‘Road to Principality’ events with two U16 finals.
Saturday’s games will see Merchedd Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd tackle Haverfordwest Ladies in the Bowl Final, Burry Port Ladies face Whitland Ladies in the Plate Final and Llandaff North seek to add the National Cup to the South Wales title they won at the stadium last year when they take on Pontyclun Falcons in the showpiece Cup Final.
The Bowl and Plate Finals will be following by a full screening of Wales Women’s TikTok Six Nations clash with Scotland (kick-off 5.30pm) as Hannah Jones’ side seek to build on their 31-5 opening round win over Ireland last weekend. The Cup Final will kick-off at 7.30pm.
NATIONAL BOWL FINAL – Merchedd Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd v Haverfordwest Ladies
The Haverfordwest women’s team was reformed in 2014 and after COVID struck the cub was forced to take to social media t re-recruit a side. It went well and their latest team has made it all the way to Principality Stadium for one of the comeback stories of the season
Their squad is a mixture of experience and newcomers. Former coach Jeff Clout and the new management, including Steve Barnett, Morgan Layton and Tony George, have pulled together a strong and determined team.
The Blues have played six league games since September. They have also triumphed in three cup game to reach the Bowl Final. They were all on the road, with the 46-22 semi-final victory at Blackwood being particularly impressive, and included a brace of tries for Rhian Swift and Meg Davies.
Welsh internationals Jasmine Joyce, Lisa Neumann, Nicola John and Sarah Lawrence have all passed through the Haverfordwest ranks and the club as w hole, which will soon celebrate its 150th anniversary, can also boast Wales caps Peter Morgan and more recently front rowers Rob Evans and Sam Parry.
Road to final Haverfordwest
West Pool 1
Tumble 17 – 26 Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest 20 – 0 Porthcawl
Quarter Final: Wrexham 0 – 52 Haverfordwest
Semi Final: Blackwood 22- 46 Haverfordwest
Road to final CRC Caerdydd
East Pool 3
CRC Caerdydd 17-10 Old Penarthians
Quarter Final: Pembroke 5-36 CRC Caerdydd
Semi Final: Abergele 7-36 CRC Caerdydd
NATIONAL PLATE FINAL – Burry Port Ladies v Whitland Ladies
Burry Port Ladies are unbeaten this season and have already taken the scalp of Whitland in the pool stages of the competition. They have won all their league games with a bonus-point.
The ‘Lady Blacks’ have players in their squad who have represented Wales at U18, U23 and senior levels. In addition, Carla Giannini is the sister of Wales U20 back rower Luca, while the Perego sisters, Danica and Roxy, have former Llanelli and Wales flanker Mark as their uncle and Kirby and Torin Myhill as their brothers.
Centre Jenna de Vera Wales was part of the development side in the Celtic Cup tournament against their Scottish and Irish counterparts this season, earning her a call-up to Ioan Cunningham’s 36-strong squad.
Whitland Ladies were founded in 2005 and have gone from strength to strength since then and now run Girls teams at U8,10, 12,14, 16 and 18 levels, as well as their senior side.
They are no strangers to Finals day having played in one cup final, coming second best to a very strong Skewen side, and two Plate finals, winning both against Gwernyfed and Seven Sisters.
They were runners-up to Skewen in the Premiership in 2015 and over the years have seen many of their players represent the Scarlets and Wales.
Team Manager Sue Davies has been the driving force behind the Ladies and Girls set up since the journey began in 2005 and her daughter and former player Sara has followed in her footsteps and is currently Team Manager of he Scarlets .
Today’s game will be the final one for skipper Natalie Walsh, who is hanging up her boots in the 15 a side game after 17 years’ service to the club
Road to Final Burry Port
Pool 2
Pencoed 0 – 20 Burry Port
Burry Port 33 – 24 Whitland
Semi Final: Seven Sisters 6 – 10 Burry Port
Road to Final Whitland
Pool 2
Whitland 20 – 0 Pencoed
Burry Port 33 – 24 Whitlan
Semi Final: Lampeter Town 10 – 36 Whitland
NATIONAL CUP FINAL – Llandaff North Ladies v Pontyclun Falcons
Expect fireworks when this one kicks-off as both teams have already met in the cup at the pool stages. That ended in a 25-18 win over Llandaff North.
Llandaff North clinched a League and South Wales Cup double last season and are looking to reinforce their status as one of the leading teams in Wales.
Heading into the final, the team have scored more than 450 points in 13 fixtures, with 74 tries coming from 20 different players. One of the main notes from the club as they have progressed over the last few seasons has been an emphasis on the team rather than individual performances. That said, the back three players, Zoe Heeley, Amberley Ruck, and Biba Chuta have had another prolific season with both Keely Ward and Cerys Ballett also offering a significant try threat up front. Claudia Meyrick has also contributed an additional 72 points from the boot.
This season has been one of change for Pontyclun Falcons with a change in the coaching set up, change in the management and an influx of new players.
An impressive League opening win after a long trip to Caernarfon helped to build confidence and momentum. Before ethe weather took hold.
Their opening cup match was at Bonymaen, which was won 43-10. A win away at Cobra in the League then set up our first encounter with Llandaff North. A hugely tense affair, with physicality and grit shown on both sides saw us come out as 5 – 0 winners. W week later, they levelled things up with a 25-18 cup triumph.
The losing bonus-point in that cup defeat saw the Falcons fly into the semi-finals. Wins against Nelson Belles, Deri Diamonds (twice) and Cobra saw us maintain a 100% record and top the Welsh Premiership.
This season has seen 40 players represent the Falcons, who have scored 390 points and conceded only 94.
Road to final Llandaff North
Pool 1
Pontyclun 18 – 25 Llandaff North
Llandaff North 20 – 0 Bonymaen
Semi Final: Llandaff North w/o v Caernarfon
Road to Final Pontyclun
Pool 1
Bonymaen 10 – 43 Pontyclun
Pontyclun 18 – 25 Llandaff North
Semi Final: Nelson 16 – 39 Pontyclun
