Tom Prydie has already started the superstar endorsement rush for his old club Porthcawl RFC ahead of their WRU National Bowl final at the Principality Stadium this weekend.
The Welsh international wing got Scarlets team mates Rob Evans and Steff Evans to send some ‘Good Luck’ messages to the Seaweeds ahead of the biggest game in the club’s 138-year history against Pembroke RFC.
But club treasurer Kevin McCarthy has got his sights set on some even bigger names in the race for social media support.
“I’ve tweeted Ruth Jones, who was born in Porthcawl, and hope she will get on board. I used to go to school with her brother, so I might see if he can help me get in touch with her,” said McCarthy.
“Rob Brydon went to Porthcawl Comprehensive, as did the Midsomer Murders star Jason Hughes and Hywel Simons, from The Bill. But the one I’d like to get to back us is Sir Tom Jones!”
McCarthy and his committee may be aiming for the stars off the field, but on it head coach Rhys James seems to have got his side in exactly the right shape to secure the first part of what could be a league and cup double this season.
Porthcawl have warmed-up for their first trip to the Principality Stadium by scoring 204 points and 31 tries in their last three matches. Those wins have moved them to within 10 points of Division 3 West Central A leaders Birchgrove, who Porthcawl beat 13-3 earlier in the month, with two games in hand.
Their only loss this season came in a local derby game at Pyle on 30 December, but this year they have strung together 12 straight wins to take them to the verge of the greatest season in the club’s 138-year history. More history beckons if they can find a way to get past Division 3 West A leaders Pembroke on Sunday.
Pembroke were given a free-pass into the final despite being beaten by Cardiff University in the semi-finals. The students, however, used a player who was not properly registered and were eventually thrown out after an appeal to the WRU.
Former Ospreys and Wales back row star Jonathan Thomas was at the Principality Stadium last weekend to see Pembroke Youth fall 29-19 to Tondu in the WRU Youth Bowl final and is set to return to watch his home town team, and first club, play on Sunday. The 32-12 semi-final defeat was only the second the club had suffered all season.
Good luck to Porthcawl RFC in the final on Sunday!!
— Rob Brydon (@RobBrydon) April 23, 2018
They lost 34-31 at Milford Haven on 23 September, but since then have dominated their league and currently lead the same side by two points with two games in hand at the top of the table. They, too, are eyeing up the double.
Porthcawl, meanwhile, ran in 13 tries in the 83-3 demolition of Neath Athletic, added five more in a 34-13 triumph over Bryncoch and then warmed-up for this weekend with an 87-0 romp against Briton Ferry that contained another 13 tries.
At the heart of the try-fests have been the dynamic centre pairing of Gareth Rees and Jon Phillips, who have scored 13 tries between them. Rees, who raced clear for the match winning score in the semi-final win over Abercwmboi, grabbed a hat-trick in all three matches, while player/coach Phillips helped himself to four tries against Neath Athletic.
The club have already arranged eight busses to take supporters up to Cardiff, with a ninth currently being filled.
On top of that the local football and cricket teams, as well as arch-rivals Pyle RFC, and the Prince of Wales pub are running buses to support the Seaweeds.