By Carl Field
At the end of what has been an up and down season, Llantwit Fardre saved their best for last to secure Worthington’s Mid District Division Two Cup glory.
A first half five-try blitz set Fardre up for a 47-27 victory over their Two East Central counterparts Cilfynydd at Sardis Road.
The two sides had both recorded a 16-8 victory over the other in their respective home fixture in the league, but on this occasion Fardre were all but out of sight by half time, leading 35-6.
Captain Joe Popple, blindside flanker Liam Malkin, wing Will Huggins, twice, and inside centre Kyan Lewis all dotted down.
Mid District Cup Final – Div 2
Llantwit Fardre RFC v Cilfynydd RFC
24th May 2024. Pic: Ashley Crowden
Lewis was over again after the break while Scott Burrows was also on the scoresheet to cap a fine match of the match display at outside centre. He also added the extras to six of his side’s seven tries.
Kieran Gough had kicked Cilfynydd into an early 6-0 lead but despite then finding themselves 47-6 down in the second half, they rallied and a hat-trick from number eight Luke Riley, all converted by Gough.
Colin Smith of Molson Coors presented Fardre with their first piece of silverware since their Worthington’s Mid District Bowl victory in 2019 – when Burrows ran in two tries against Aberdare on the same ground to help secure silverware for Fardre that night too.
Mid District Cup Final – Div 2
Llantwit Fardre RFC v Cilfynydd RFC
24th May 2024. Pic: Ashley Crowden
After the match against Cilfynydd, Fardre club director Nigel Phillips said: “Just absolutely delighted to get some silverware at the end of what has been a long season.
“And I think, probably in the first half, we played some of the best rugby we’ve played all year.
“But fair play to Cilfynydd, they kept playing and didn’t let their heads drop; it was a really entertaining game and a nice end to the season.”
The performance from Fardre was even more impressive given it had been almost a month since the end of their league season – which saw them win nine and lose 13 of their 22 matches to finish in eighth.
“We kept to the same training pattern, with the boys coming in twice a week as well as doing their own fitness work,” said Phillips.
“The focus was very much on winning the final and ending the season with some silverware.
“To be fair to Darren Bool and his team of coaches, they mapped everything out and it was probably to our advantage that we had that month, because it allowed us to prepare fully for the opposition, who we know well anyway.”
Mid District Cup Final – Div 2
Llantwit Fardre RFC v Cilfynydd RFC
24th May 2024. Pic: Ashley Crowden
Phillips added he is hopeful for next season.
“I think the season has been one of consolidation,” he said.
“We’ve introduced some very young players into the squad; as soon as a couple of the lads have turned 18, we’ve pulled them out of the youth team into the first team.
“People like Tom Lever and Jude Williams, they both came off the bench and performed admirably so we’ve got a good structure in there.
“So really looking forward to next season and building on that now.”
Llantwit Fardre RFC v Cilfynydd RFC. Pic: Ashley Crowden