Weekend Preview

By Mal Davies

All the weekend action from around the club and community

After a break in the action last weekend for the Six Nations, rugby returns this week for our senior teams.

The 1st XV will welcome old friends Ebbw Vale to Mount Pleasant Park in what will be a tough and testing WRU National Cup 2nd round fixture.

The Steelmen have gone on to enjoy plenty of glory since they last played Beddau back in the Championship in the 2012/13 season which included being crowned Principality Premiership Champions at the end of last season.

They have seen a little dip in form by their huge standards over the last few months but they still managed to qualify for the tier one league of the Premiership where they have won one (Aberavon 15-6) and lost one (Bedwas 15-12) from their opening two games. They are coached by former Wales Interim coach Nigel Davies who is assisted by Lee Davies, a man who is fondly thought of by all at Beddau. Former prop Davies lead Beddau along with current backs coach Ben Daniels to an instant Championship return after their first ever league relegation in the 2013/14 season.

The Clubs last met in that 2013/14 season at Eugene Cross Park in the then Swalec Cup when it was the home team who showed their class with a big 71-13 win against a struggling Green and Gold outfit. But Beddau really tested their Gwent guests last time the teams met at Mount Pleasant Park in May 2013. A late try by Ebbw favourite Ashley Sweet which was converted by Josh Lewis deep into injury time pinched a 27-20 victory for the newly crowned Championship Champions. Beddau could have and perhaps should have taken the spoils that afternoon with the huge away support conceding their team really had a tough afternoon. The Green and Golds scored tries through Joe Casella and Andy Humberstone that afternoon with Tom Benjamin slotting two conversions and a penalty.

Saturday’s fixture will certainly be a marker to see how Beddau have progressed under the guidance of coaches Ross Johnson and Ben Daniels with indications in recent weeks that the team’s development is certainly on an upward spiral. The emotion filled performance at home to Narberth a fortnight ago was excellent and they will need to build upon that further if they want to lower the colours of the Premiership Champions.

The Club as always are delighted to welcome all players, officials and supporters of the great Club to Mount Pleasant Park this weekend. The Ebbw crowd is certainly one of, if not the best group of supporters that have visited Beddau in recent years. They are a loud and colourful army of fans who support their team to the fullest on the paddock and share a beer and an unbiased view of the game off it.

Kick-off is 2.30pm and match referee is Mr Robert Price (Andover, Hampshire)

Admission £5
Concessions £3
Under 16s free when accompanied by an adult
Match programme £1

The 2nd XV are back in action in the Rhondda & East Glamorgan Division A as they entertain Dowlais at Yorkdale.

The teams met up in the heads of the valleys back in October in the reverse league fixture and it was a young green and gold side that come out on top with a 34-20 success with one of their best performances of the season.

Dowlais currently occupy third spot in the table with four wins from seven games and are now the only team to have beaten Bargoed in two seasons of rugby. They will certainly prove to be a big test for a Beddau side that are a place lower than them in the table having recorded three wins from their four games.
With Mal O’Sullivan working tirelessly to re-arrange league fixtures it is hoped that Tomos Preece and Riaz Majhoti’s squad will move further up the table and possibly look at a top two finish.

Kick-off is also 2.30pm and Match referee is Mr Rhys Mellor-Cretney

The Youth XV fixture for this weekend is yet to be confirmed.

MINI & JUNIOR RUGBY

Our “Bulldogs” are again in action on Sunday morning weather permitting. It is always a pleasure to watch these children enjoying playing the game with a smile on their face with the intent on development rather than success. Long may it continue and our thanks go to the continued support of all the volunteers at all levels who make these Sunday mornings such a success.

DARTS

Our Friday night darts team extended their lead at the top of the Pontyclun & District Winter league after a 5-2 win at Red Gate A last week. They will hope to consolidate that lead or further extend it this Friday as they welcome local rivals Cwm Welfare to the Clubhouse.

The teams met last before Christmas at the Welfare where Lenny’s Lions picked up a deserved 5-2 (11-6 legs) victory. Cwm have had a solid season winning 50% of their first sixteen games and sit in sixth place in the table.

The game starts at 8.15pm and the team welcome any support from the Clubs members.

FOOTBALL

Cwm Welfare will look to get their heavy 7-1 defeat to league leaders STM Sports last Saturday out of their minds as they host Penrhiwceiber Rangers in another Welsh league division three encounter (2.30pm).

Cwm had been on a good recent run up until last Saturday which had seen them pull away from the basement of the table. Last week’s loss means they are still two points adrift of the safety positions in the table but are also still a couple of wins from a mid-table spot.

Rangers currently occupy eleventh place in the table which is three places higher than their hosts and have accumulated twenty four points after nine wins and three draws. One of the draws was a 1-1 result with Cwm Welfare at their home ground back in October.

Cwm will be hoping to get all three points on Saturday and pull their guests into the battle at the bottom end of the table.

ENTERTAINMENT

All the top Guinness Pro12 and Aviva rugby along with FA Cup football can be seen live in HD on the many big screens and large TV’s around the Clubhouse this weekend. The Sunday afternoon / evening entertainment continues this week with another top local vocalist playing live in the bar from 5.30pm and all free to members and bonafide guests.

LOTTERY

Remember to pick up your lucky Club lotto tickets from behind the bar over the weekend. Tickets are just £1 and you could earn yourself a nice little jackpot if you pick four correct numbers from twenty. The draw will take place on Monday.

Have a great weekend.

Updated 00:35 - 3 Sep 2019 by Mal Davies

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Club Statement It is with deep sadness that the club announce the passing of Scott Barnes
Weekend Preview All the weekend action from around the club and community

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Results
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1ST XV Dunvant
League 29 – 30
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1ST XV Glynneath
League 18 – 24
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