News

With a break in the National League’s last weekend as the Six Nations entered the 2^nd week Caerphilly are contemplating a Principality Stadium appearance of their own this week. Having dispatched Wattstown in the 5^th round of the National Bowl competition the side entered the Quarter Final draw along with 7 other teams. Amman Utd, Burry Port, Cardigan, Cilfynydd, Milford Haven, Swansea Uplands and Taff’s Well.

With Caerphilly drawn as a home team, it was last year’s National Bowl runners up, Taff Well that came out of the draw for Caerphilly to face, and the prospects of a home tie against the local team from league 3 South Central A, to be played at the Contructaquote Stadium in Caerphilly on the 18^th February.

The side have reached 2 Major Finals in their history, the Parker Pen Shield Final in 2003, Caerphilly becoming the third Welsh side to reach a Major European Final behind Cardiff and Llanelli. This was followed by an appearance in the Swalec Cup final against Neath in 2004, losing both ties at the final hurdle. Three league titles in the nineties and a rise to the upper echelon’s of Welsh rugby was quickly followed with a close runners up slot in Division 1 in 2007, the side has had little to shout about in recent years, despite losing narrowly in the Mid District Bowl Final against Porth in 2015 and the second team, Caerphilly Diamonds winning the Ifor Williams District Cup in 2013.

The side has seen a resurgence in results this season, with a professional commitment form the players of both the 1st and 2^nd team, along with the arrival of Brett Davey, who was part of the team’s success through the late nineties, before his departure for Pontypridd, where he played along side current backs coach Matthew Nuthall. A good 2016-17 season has yielded results, despite two narrow defeats in the league, the side sit 4 points behind league leaders Hartridge with a game in hand, and 2 points behind Oakdale, with 2 games in hand over them, and already 2 victories against them in the league and cup. The team have also finished top of this year’s Glamorgan County Silver Ball league table having won 10 out of 10 games in the competition with 77 tries, outside half Matthew Hurley a great contributor with a personal tally of 256 point, 16 tries, 52 conversions and 24 penalties in the season so far.

This weekend’s game is a big test for the side, playing Taff’s Well who were narrowly defeated in last year’s Bowl final at the Principality Stadium by Burry Port, who also remain in this year's competition. A large crowd is expected at the Contructaquote Stadium for the fixture and the club are urging rugby supporters in the Rhymney Valley, Friends and Supporters to come along early to the game, where there will be a Large Screen, Pyrotechnics, a guard of honour from the Junior Section and some very good rugby on a large flat pitch against good opposition. An exciting day will be had by all. Some come along and support your local club in their latest venture, a place in the Semi Final of the National Bowl.  Entry will be £4.00 with concessions available for the 2:30pm kick off.