2017 KO Cup Final Snippets by Bill Carne
** Well done to Aberystwyth and Tenby United for producing a Knock Out Cup Final that was reminiscent of games of yesteryear, with no shortage of skills, huge tackling hits and total commitment!
** It was The Seasiders’ 33rd success in the competition and skipper Luke Hansford was understandably jubilant at sealing the double of Division Two (West Champions) and the KO Cup.
** Equally delighted was his fiancée Jade Mason because on Saturday the pair are getting married and her heart must have skipped a beat when he had a bang on the bonce in the first half. But he’s a tough old boy and we wish them a lovely wedding day – and a great two weeks’ honeymoon in Mexico!
** Congratulations to Crymych RFC for their excellent staging of the KO Cup Final – as usual the Preseli Men got it right. The pitch looked a real picture, parking was spot-on and refreshments were available!
** Well done also to Pembrokeshire officials Alan Jones (chairman), Charles Davies (Hon Secretary) and Delyth Summons (Hon Treasurer) for their hard work in bringing the competition to fruition, and to JT Autos for their continued support of such a big day in local rugby’s calendar.
** As well as being chairman, Allan doubles up as a terrific officer with Aberystwyth and he admitted afterwards that this was the third occasion he had presented the silverware when Aber played against Tenby in the final – and the third time the Mid Wales side had been defeated!
** There was a smaller crowd than on some previous occasions but one feature was the terrifically noisy support provided by a group of young Tenby fans sitting on the top bank. They sang their love of ‘The Seasiders’ throughout but assistant ref Richard Thomas had them flummoxed a little when he asked them who they were cheering for because Aber is also very much a seaside town too!
** Aberystwyth players and number of supporters travelled down together on a bus and they stopped off for food in Aberaeron, where the players had a healthy snack – but some of their followers told me they had an even better meal – a big plate of fish and chips, washed down by a pint of Guinness!
*Aberystwyth have always shown a commitment to local rugby, despite the travel, and a supporter standing next to me was able to supply the answer for players’ loyalty – in a recent league match no fewer than 16 players had come through from the youth set-up, and had been born at Bronglais Hospital, in the Mid Wales town!
** Tenby didn’t follow that routine but after midweek training they had a great bonding session at a barbeque in Heywood Lane, where a huge amount of meat went down well – and aren’t they lucky to have strong-running three quarter Mark Heywood as a butcher?!
** A late injury prevented Mark from playing but he still showed what a good clubman he is by acting as water boy – and typified The Seasiders’ team spirit against a team who this campaign played in a section higher in the league set-up.
** Referee Simon Mills (Llanelli) worked well with assistants Richard Hughes (Llandysul) and Richard Thomas (Carmarthen), plus fourth official Tony Pratt. Richard, who now runs the line at Welsh Premier games, was pilloried by Tenby supporters in the bottom corner after The Seasiders had repelled a scrum five attack but he signalled an illegal hand in the set-piece.
But minutes later he spotted an Aber forward pass so a try for their winger Llyr Thomas was disallowed – and was suddenly the hero of the hour for the Seasiders’ spectators!
** The Aber supporters also gave stick to referee Mills in the same corner but even they had to laugh when the good-natured reply from a Tenby fan was that the ref had a caravan in Kiln Park!
*Ashley Sutton was a popular choice as man of the match for the trophy, his second, presented by HNO Hughes and Associates, who also provided the match ball, so well done Ashley, who landed 11 points, but he was closely followed by centre Scott James, full back Johnny Morgan and flanker Andrew Cooke – and if Aber had edged home then talented full back Steffan Rees and flanker Paul Stubbs might have been in contention.
** Some very interested spectators of the early stages was a herd of cows in the adjoining field but when the ball was kicked nearby they were like thoroughbred race horses as they bolted up the slope to the far corner of their patch, where they cannily remained until the match was over!