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Club History |
Cwmtillery RFC Rugby has been played in
Cwmtillery for well over 100 years.
There is a reference in the Blaina RFC
centenary book of a game played between Blaina ll and Cwmtillery RFC back in
1875. The Cwmtillery RFC side of late was reformed in 1951, by mainly miners
working at the local mine, to give young apprentice's an opportunity to play
rugby football. The first ever meeting took place in the South Wales Inn
overlooking the pit. A committee was then formed and the officers were Ozzie
Davies, Hayden-Hoot-Gibson, Rosser Phillips and Bert Lloyd to name but a few.
The first Trial was held on Abertillery park against a side made up of 15
Blaina youths.
For the first 6 years due to the lack of a ground, all there
fixtures were played away from home. When the Woodland Field was opened the
Cwmtillery side played an Invitation side with players drawn from Abertillery -
Ebbw Vale - Newport. The game was won by the visitors with a try scored by the
Wales and British Lion wing Ken Jones. In the late 1950's the club then joined
the Monmouthshire Junior Union as there was not enough Youth sides about to
form a strong fixture list.
The club has had many successes, winning the
local district Cyrus Davies cup twice, twice semi-finalists in the Welsh
District Cup and also becoming the first Welsh Club to win the 15 a-side
Benidorm Easter Rugby Festival. On the sevens front they have also won the
Gwent District Seven -a -side tournament on no fewer than seven occasions going
on to represent Gwent and winning the Welsh District Seven-a-side cup, beating
Llanelli District in the final. The side also had good runs in the Schweppes
cup, being on the verge of the last sixteen only to be beaten by Tredegar in
1985 and the following year by Aberavon who fielded no fewer than 5 full
internationals including Allan Martin, Billy James, Ray Giles, Richard Diplock
and Jonathen Griffiths.
Cwmtillery have also been fortunate to participate
in games against Captain Crawsheys and Public School Wanderers. Cwmtillery have
also been a breading ground for many a fine player who have gone on to play for
First Class clubs. The most famous being Hayden Morgan. Hayden played for
Abertillery, Wales 27 times and played in four test matches for the British
Lions and is now living in Durban, South Africa. At one time, Cwmtillery had 3
ex-hookers all playing first class rugby for different clubs at the same time,
Mike Cairns (Abertillery), Huw Gilson (Swansea) and Mike Paul (Newport).
Other Ex players to gain representative honours include:-
Welsh
District Caps
Nigel Paul, Carl Mogford, Andrew Blake, Dean
Thomas,
As well as
Mike Cairns - Abertillery (Captain for 6 seasons),
Monmouthshire cap, Crawshays.
Brandon Cripps - Abertillery, Newbridge,
Monmouthshire, Crawshays, Barbarians.
John Lewis - Abertillery,
Monmouthshire, Crawshays, Final Welsh Trialist (John was sure to make up the
all Abertillery' back row along with Hayden Morgan and Allen Pask, only to
break his leg in the trial) Peter Richerson - Monmouthshire cap
Peter Jones
- Monmouthshire cap
Dai Barret - Monmouthshire Cap
Ken Hewit - now
presiding on the WRU Committee
Leigh Jones - Welsh rugby union coach and
now coach of Newport RFC
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| Some of the
Original Cwmtillery Youth Team 1952-54 era |
The venue for the first game was at Pontnewydd
Committee
Ozzie Davies Chairman, Mr. Bert Lloyd Secretary,
Jimmy Taylor Baggage Assistant.
Players
Roy Davies
(Captain) Cwmillery, Bob Coburn Blaina, Alwyn Morgan Blaina,
Cyril Parsons (Captain ) Cwmtillery, (Mad-Dog) Dennis Coburn
Blaina,
(Decker) Derek Harris Gelli Crug, Ron Cook Blaina,
(Bogger) John Sperring Blaina, Haydn.J.Ginger Morgan Trianant,
Lloyd Owens Cwmtillery, ? Chivers Six Bells,
Mike
Callaghan Peny-bont, John Lewis Abertillery, Alan? Williams
Blaina,
Ron Nelmes Peny-bont, Gordon Cleas Peny-bont.
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