Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd capped their promotion-winning season with silverware after defeating Old Illtydians 55-22 in a keenly-contested final at Barry RFC to lift the Worthington’s Malcolm Thomas Cup.
Having suffered the gut-wrenching disappointment of missing out on promotion by a single point 12 months ago, Clwb Rygbi regrouped and went on to power to promotion from Division Three East Central this season alongside division winners Wattstown.
The team have racked up more than 100 tries in all competitions this season and they saved a magnificent seven of those for the East District showpiece in midweek as they ended the season in style with a Cup final triumph.
After picking up the trophy, Clwb skipper and try scorer Harry Moyle acknowledged his men had been in a battle against Old Illtydians – who were relegated from Three East Central at the end of last season.
“We knew them quite well having played against them last season when we had some tough games with them,” said Moyle.
“They put a shift in, a hell of a fight.”
On his own side’s success this season, Moyle added: “It was obviously quite tough coming back together last summer and starting from scratch after the season before.
“We were determined to go up this time and we did that with a couple of games to go so it was less of a nervous ending.
“It was nice to get that one of our backs this season – and this cup win is the cherry on top really.”
Left wing Tomos Jones scored in each half, with hooker Rhodri Williams, flankers Huw Gwyn and Sion Davies, captain and No. 8 Moyle and outside-half Remiel Wharton also on the scoresheet.
Full-back Gruff Ab Ieuan had a perfect night from the tee, successfully converting all seven tries as well as sending over two penalties.
For Old Illtydians, openside flanker Freddie Robson dotted down in each half, with skipper Mike Hiscocks also going over in the second half.
Outside half Cam Burgess converted both second half tries in addition to his first half penalty.
In truth, the final margin of defeat was harsh on Division Four East Central outfit Old Illtydians who, despite being one division below their opponents, were more than a match for Clwb, particularly early on.
They were only 7-5 down when they lost centre Jacob Purcell to the sin-bin after 25 minutes. Clwb seized on their numerical advantage, kicking the resulting penalty and scoring two converted tries in quick succession to open up a 24-5 lead.
Trailing 27-8 early in the second half, Old Illtydians still refused to fold and with around 10 minutes remaining were still very much in the fight at 34-22 down having just scored their third try.
A breakaway Clwb try proved to be the knockout blow and put the result beyond doubt and then two more tries in the closing minutes gave the final scoreline a more flattering look.
Division Two East Central now beckons for Clwb Rygbi while it’s been a season to remember across the whole club with the women’s team reaching the WRU Plate Final at the Principality Stadium.
Old Illtydians can look to next season with confidence having consolidated with a fifth placed finish in Four East Central and reached a cup final this season.
That is after a difficult previous couple of years before that which yielded only three league wins across two seasons and ultimately resulted in relegation from Division Three.
Club treasurer Andrew Maunder said: “There’s a bit of disappointment in terms of the scoreline in the final against Clwb, but I don’t think it reflected the boys’ efforts.
“The boys can be proud of the way they stuck in there and we played some good stuff.
“We’d have liked to have kept it closer for longer, but we never stopped trying so that and the level of performance stands us in good stead.
“On balance, it’s been a really positive season and we want to push on if we can next season."
