A landmark season lies ahead for Cardiff RFC, with the Blue and Blacks preparing to celebrate their 150th season.
St Albans RFC provided a valuable test as preparations stepped up for the new Super Rygbi Cymru campaign, which Cardiff get underway against Carmarthen Quins on September 12th.
This fixture against The Buns gave Cardiff a chance to gauge themselves while also providing several opportunities for players to make their debuts.
Summer arrivals Harry Fry, Louis Fletcher, who was named as Player of the Match, and Sonny Greenman, all announced earlier in the week, were handed their first Cardiff RFC starts.
Will Bennett, Gabe Williams, Charlie Probert and Charlie Rainbird also made their first appearances for the Blue and Blacks, while Vinnay Cleak, Kian Lloyd, George Thomas, Isaac Manning-Burke, Owen Lewis, Calen Edwards and Harvey Bryant were introduced from the bench for their Cardiff RFC debuts.
It was the second-ever meeting between the two sides, as Cardiff made the short journey to Tremorfa Park last August, where they claimed a 66-0 win.
This time around, the Blue and Blacks welcomed St Albans to the Cardiff Arms Park, as Dan Fish’s side recorded a 99-7 victory against The Buns.
Speaking following the contest, player and assistant coach Jason Harries said: “Looking at the scoreline, it’s a bit irrelevant at the end of the day.
“Look, we’ve had a good blowout today; first one of the season. It’s always that tough one after pre-season, doing all the fitness, putting your kinda emphasis on it, new structure, and new players joining the team as well.
“So, it’s nice to get all that to come to one and express it on the field is what we love to do.”
Story of the Game
Wales has experienced a prolonged spell of hot weather in recent weeks, and the balmy conditions continued in the Welsh capital.
Sean Moore, who was picked at blind-side, skippered the hosts for the contest, with Cardiff’s 2026/27 captain, Craig Hudd, selected on the bench.
With that said, St Albans outside-half Luke Sherwin got proceedings underway, and it did not take long for the deadlock to be broken.
Following an exciting opening period, which included a brilliant kick upfield from loose-head Harry Fry, Harry Turner and Sonny Greenman showing great attacking intent, and Jason Harries almost scoring, it was winger Dewi Cross who bagged the opening points of the afternoon.
Almost instantly after Ben Coomer added the extras, the visitors found themselves level. After a timely kick in behind by scrum-half Max O’Rourke, he regathered possession and scored The Buns’ first-ever try against Cardiff.
Outside-half Sherwin added the extras, but soon after that Cardiff scored their second. Sonny McCabe powered his way over from close range, with Coomer adding the extras to regain control of the fixture.
Next, try-scorer Cross made a darting run before offloading back on the inside for debutant Greenman to score. Coomer remained 100% from the tee as he slotted the extras, as Cardiff led 21-7 after 13 minutes.
From close range inside-centre Harries powered his way through to score, and this was followed by St Albans being reduced to 14-men.
After a kick in behind, which Cross superbly managed, Josh Dunleavy was yellow carded for deliberately blocking the winger, who would have inevitably claimed the Blue and Blacks’ fifth of the contest.
With the extra man advantage, captain Sean Moore crossed over following the visitors being penalised. For the first time in the match, Coomer was unable to add the extras, but Cardiff sat in a commanding 33-7 lead at the start of the second quarter.
Following a brilliant kick in behind by winger Turner, who made his Cardiff RFC debut in this exact fixture last August, Ioan Leyshon expertly touched down for the hosts’ sixth of the afternoon.
Outside-half Coomer added the extras, and moments later almost scored his first try for the club after regaining possession for the Blue and Blacks. Then, before the interval, Cardiff passed the half-century mark.
After continuous pressure inside The Buns’ 22, Aled Ward scored before quickly getting his second as Cardiff had a 45-point lead going in at halftime, after Coomer added the extras.
HT: Cardiff RFC 52-7 St Albans RFC
At the break, the introduction of several replacements followed, as Isaac Manning-Burke got proceedings back underway, and Cardiff continued to add to their tally.
Replacement Tom Harper opened the scoring in the second-half, as Manning-Burke kicked his first points for Cardiff RFC by adding the extras.
Following some brilliant handling skills on the outside, winger Turner raced over for the hosts’ tenth of the contest. Manning-Burke slotted the extras, which guided the Blue and Blacks into a 66-7 lead, after only 3 minutes of play in the final 40.
That lead soon grew even larger, despite St Albans keeping the hosts try-less for 13 minutes in the third quarter. Ward claimed his hat-trick brilliantly, before then being replaced straight after scoring.
Manning-Burke couldn’t add the extras, but the lead grew to 64 points. Replacement and debutant Thomas scored next as this time around Manning-Burke added the extras, with the scoreboard reading 78-7 with 20 minutes remaining.
Replacement Hudd made a great impact when he was introduced off the bench, and after he showcased great footwork and pace, it allowed hooker Will Bennett to score on his first outing for the club. Manning-Burke impressed again by adding the extras, as Hudd scored Cardiff’s fourteenth after a scrum from close range.
Before then, however, Cardiff showed impressive handling that almost led to Hudd scoring. Cardiff’s attack had a Harlem Globetrotters feel to it, with several players shining after smartly taking a goal-line dropout quickly.
But the Blue and Blacks lost possession agonisingly close to the St Albans whitewash before the 65th minute mark.
Before the final whistle, replacement Cleak carried hard and offloaded to Probert, who scored his first try as Manning-Burke added the extras, which claimed the spoils, 99-7.
Up next for Cardiff is a trip to Devon to conclude their pre-season campaign against Brixham RFC at Astley Park, before attention firmly turns onto the new Super Rygbi Cymru season.
FT: Cardiff RFC 99-7 St Albans RFC