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Mountain Ash RFC recently held its senior presentation night at the clubhouse. It was a night of celebration with the 1^st XV achieving their goal of promotion to the Championship East after finishing 3^rd in Division 1 East Central with a playing record of played 19, won 14, lost 5, scoring 87 tries, which was the joint highest in the division, and conceding 31 tries, which was the lowest in the division. The Mount team were well in contention to win the division until they lost the initiative at the end of January with a 28-26 loss at home to eventual champions Cambrian Welfare after leading 26-7 with 20 minutes left.

There was a good cup run as well which ended in the semi-final against Glynneath, 16-15, with the conversion of a penalty from the last kick of the game in the 9^th minute of injury time.

In total, 24 games were played, 17 won, and 7 lost, with 733 points scored, which included 93 tries, and 346 conceded. Of the games lost, the highest margin of defeat was 6 points, with two lost by a point. In virtually all of these defeats, the Old Firm were in front but failed to build on it, which is something they will need to address next season in the higher division.

Of the 24 games played, prop Bleddyn Lock, second row Jarrad Parfitt, and back five forward Steffan Calderbank played in all of them. Scrum half and captain Ross Davies, wing Morgan James, hooker Kieran Coomer, outside half/full back Jayden Pugh, and back five forwards Daniel Phillips and Cameron Davies played 23.

Flanker Chris Edmunds played his 383^rd 1^st XV game and prop James Cowdry played his 300^th. The top points scorers were outside half/full back Jayden Pugh with 158 and outside half Callum Hall with 125. The top try scorer was wing Morgan James with 15.

The 2^nd XV played 19 games, won 9 and lost 10, and encouragingly “blooded” a lot of players in their first year of senior rugby.

The award winners on the night were as follows:

1^st XV Player of the Year 2023/24: Flanker Daniel Phillips

1^st XV Players’ Player of the Year 2023/24: Prop Bleddyn Lock

Most Promising Player 2023/24: Outside half/full back Jayden Pugh

Most Improved Player 2023/24: Wing Morgan James

2^nd XV Player of the Year 2023/24: Scrum half Ethan Davies

2^nd XV Players’ Player of the Year 2023/24: Flanker Chris Edmunds

Prop James Cowdry, who made his 1^st XV debut back in 2008/09, was also given an award for playing his 300^th 1^st XV game.

Mountain Ash RFC does not only run a two senior teams. A very important part of the club is the Youth and Mini/Junior Section. Below is some information about their seasons.

Youth XV

The 2023/24 season has very much been a tale of two halves for Mountain Ash Youth.

The September to December block saw the Youth compete in the Cardiff North League, an 8 team league of their closest rival clubs in the North of the region. A successful start to the campaign saw victories against Cynon Valley rivals Abercwmboi 26-12, Aberdare 15-6, and Abercynon 46-16, to put the Young Firm in joint first place in the division. But, a one point away loss to eventual winners Merthyr scuppered any chance of the boys lifting the trophy, as Merthyr went on to win the competition without loss.

The Young Firm began 2024 competing in the Cardiff Rugby Championship, an 8 team league with both North and South teams competing. The abysmal weather from January to April, combined with other clubs consistently cancelling games, meant only 3 games were played in 15 weeks. The Youth manged to string a number of games together and got to the semi-final of the Cardiff Rugby Plate where they beat Pontypridd 17-7 at Duffryn Pennar Park. In the final at Cardiff Arms Park, a hard-fought and close game was eventually lost to Beddau Youth 29-22. Although defeat in the final was disappointing, it was still a very good season overall for Mountain Ash Youth.

Mini & Junior Section

The Mini and Junior section of Mountain Ash RFC had another great season. The section had over 200 players registered over 10 age groups being looked after by 31 hard-working coaches week in, week out. Behind the scenes the committee, volunteers and parents are the foundations that enable the section to succeed.

On the field, the players of all age groups played some amazing rugby with a few of the age groups going through the season undefeated. Several players represented the Under 11 Cynon Valley District XV-Brax Nash, Leo Turner, Jenson Williams, Gabriel Miles, and the brothers Curtis and Lawson Davies, the great grandsons of long-time Mount Trainer and Life Member Bernard Davies, who attended to Mount teams for over 50 years during his time with the club. The U.14s got through to the ¼ finals of the Cardiff Rugby Bowl and the Under 13s ended up winning the Cardiff Rugby Plate on Cardiff Arms Park in great style with a display of running rugby which ended with a 41-17 win against Rumney (Cardiff).

Away from rugby union, two of the U.14 team represented West Wales at rugby League – Joseff Keating played for the Elite team and Ruben Main captained the development team. Thanks to the players, parents, coaches and volunteers for all their hard work this year.

Mountain Ash Rugby Club caters for players of all ages from Under 7s right up to senior level. If you are a young up-and-coming player, or a youngster interested in playing rugby for the first time, come along and get involved, you’ll enjoy it. Details of training times and venues will be available shortly. And it is the same message to any potential new Youth and senior players.

Mountain Ash RFC is a successful club with great facilities, and will play in Championship East next season. Come and join one of our teams, you are welcome. And what’s more, you won’t regret it, you’ll have the time of your life.

Get in the Action, Join the Old Firm

Below are photographs taken of the award winners with the guest of honour, Welsh International second row, Bradley Davies.

Above, prop Bleddyn Lock, the 2023/24 1st XV Players' Player of the Year

Above, flanker Daniel Phillips, the 2023/24 1st XV Player of the Year

Above, outside half/full back Jayden Pugh, the 2023/24 Most Promising Player

Above, wing Morgan James, the 2023/24 Most Improved Player

Above, Chris Edmunds, 2nd XV Captain, on the left, presents scrum half Ethan Davies with the 2nd XV 2023/24 Player of the Year award.

Above, 2nd XV Manager Jonathan Lock to the left presents flanker Chris Edmunds with the 2023/24 2nd XV Players' Player of the Year award.

 Coach Neil Eynon to the left presents prop James Cowdry with a specially embroided Mountain Ash RFC jersey commemorating his 300th 1st XV game for the club.