Glamorgan County RFC certainly had a busy week-end, on Saturday, 22nd August they played the President’s Cup between last seasons Worthington’s Silver Ball winners Aberavon Harlequins against the top try scorers in the ten qualifying games of the Silver Ball – Abercrave. The game is always played at the ground of the Silver Ball winners. The Harlequins who had an outstanding season and became Champions of Division 3 South West and won promotion to Division 2 West for this season, was a very formidable task for Abercrave who are in Division 4 South West. To make Abercrave’s task even harder was the fact that a few of their star players were attending a wedding that afternoon. The Quins were winning a stream of possession but bone crunching tackles from Abercrave cancelled out many a promising move. The Quins went into a half time lead of 24 points to 3. Three fine converted tries were scored by full-back Michael Parfitt, Loose-head prop Lloyd Hadyn and Hooker James Davies, with Outside Half Marc Sheppard converting three and kicking a penalty, while Abercrave’s lone score came from a penalty by Full-back D Norton. The second half opened with a good crowd of supporters expecting the flood gates to open, but this did not happen as Abercrave’s tackling was immense and the tackles that were put in was as if their very lives depended upon it. The try of the match indeed came from Abercrave, when from a brilliant arking run and pass from outstanding scrum-half B Williams who put Centre C Price storming under the post for D Norton to convert. With eight minutes to go to the end of the match the Quins had not added to their half time lead, but then scored two quick tries from replacement Josh Pugh and livewire hooker James Davies scoring his second try. Both tries were converted by Outside Half Marc Sheppard to make the final score 38 points to 10 in favour of the Quins. Glamorgan’s Mr Alun Davies then presented the President’s Cup to the winning Captain Flanker Richard Wanklyn. Sunday August, 23rd saw the County take a very strong squad to Ystalyfera to help the Club celebrate 125 years. It was a very bad day with driving rain but this did not deter a very large and lively crowd of supporters. Ystalyfera that had won promotion from Division 4 South West to Division 3 South West for this season started the game with all their guns firing and it was only the County’s strong defence that kept them at bay. The County took a little time to settle mainly due to the fact that ten players were making their debuts. Whatever the weather the County go out to play attractive, open and barbarian style rugby. The County went into a half time lead of 21 points to 7 through tries by Wing Forward Matthew Llewellyn of Gilfach Goch, Scrum Half Lloyd O’Connor of Nantyffyllon and replacement Owen Scourfield of Neath Athletic with three conversions from Captain and Outside Half Gareth James of Ebbw Vale. Ystalyfera was awarded a penalty try converted by Outside Half Dane Clancy. The second half saw the field become cut up but the County scored two further tries by Full Back Rhys Williams Corus and Centre Nathan Walters of Gilfach Goch with replacement Cliff Rickets of Pyle converting Walters try, to give the County a fine win of 33 points to 7. Outstanding for Ystalyfera were the front row of Kieran Lloyd, Jonathan Williams and Dan White, back row of No.8 and Captain Paul Davies and wing forwards Jesse Paton and Jonathan Evans and the centre pairing of Matthew Dunne Vice Captain and Matthew Scott and scrum half Phillip Thomas. Gareth James the County Captain and Outside Half led a very talented squad to a fine victory, with all their players outstanding. In the after match function the County President Mr John Clayton (Mountain Ash RFC) presented Ystalyfera with a cut glass and engraved bowl to commemorate their 125 years and John received a special plaque from Ystalyfera. Matthew Llewellyn of Gilfach Goch received the County tie for six appearances. Many thanksMalcolm K ThomasPublicity OfficerGlamorgan County RFC
