Cardiff RFC began their 2025/26 season with a hard-fought 47-31 victory against Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 at a sun-drenched and breezy Stadiwm CSM.
Tries from Dewi Cross, Ben Fry, Ieuan Davies, Joe Cowell, Joe Goodchild, and Lucas de la Rua secured the Blue and Blacks an opening day six point bonus point win in North Wales.
Speaking after the encounter head coach, Dan Fish said: “First game of the season, momentum swung back and forth for both teams.
“To be truthful, first half we didn’t really fire any shots and we just relied on a bit of individual quality from certain individuals.
“But we challenged the boys at halftime to be better in what we’ve trained in pre-season and to be fair to us we were better.
“To come up to North Wales, and get six points from the first game of the season, we’ll take that any day of the week.”
Story Of The Game
There was one late change to the Blue and Blacks match day squad with Christian Brooke replacing Tom Harper on the bench. Harri Wilde who made his Cardiff RFC debut in this fixture in October 2022 got both sides SRC campaigns underway.
It was the hosts who broke the deadlock on eight minutes. This came from scrum half, Connor Dever offloading onto the outside for openside, Charlie Probhert to score the opening try of the afternoon.
The Blue and Blacks responded almost instantly and this came from a break in play from the hosts, where the Blue and Blacks regained possession and winger, Cross showed his pace to crossover. Wilde added the extras which brought proceedings back level after 10 minutes.
That lead then quickly extended with Cross breaking through the hosts’ defence with ease, which allowed Lucas de la Rua to put the visitors metres from the whitewash. Then after a few phases, on his debut, Ben Fry powered over for his side’s second on 15 minutes.
Wilde’s boot was instrumental in extending his side’s lead further at the end of the first quarter. The outside half slotted the three points, which meant he has now scored 100 points for the club.
Shortly following this Gareth Parry broke into the visitors 22 and the Blue and Blacks were penalised and Billy McBryde kicked into the corner. After the catch and drive, on his 50th appearance for the Gogs, tighthead Patrick Nelson scored.
Wilde on 30 minutes remained 100% from the tee as he slotted another three points. However, the Blue and Blacks found themselves one man down with debutant, Fry yellow carded.
Before halftime and with the extra-man advantage, fullback Dion Jones brilliantly broke through the visitors defence and crossed. McBryde added the extras which meant at the break the visitors led by one point.
HT: Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 19-20 Cardiff
After some brilliant set-up play, the Blue and Blacks started the second half on the front foot. Tom Williams, de la Rua and Jason Harries all showed great handling which allowed debutant Ieuan Davies to impressively score on his debut. Wilde added the extras which put the visitors into an eight point lead.
The Gogs then on the hour mark took a penalty quickly and with the momentum in their favour, Caio Parry brought his side into the visitors 22. A few phases followed and loosehead Gareth Parry showed his strength to score.
Three minutes later and after remaining patient and keeping their attack narrow the Blue and Blacks crossed for their fifth of the encounter. Replacement Cowell powered over, which meant the Blue and Blacks regained their eight point lead.
Heading into the final ten of this enthralling encounter, it was the hosts who scored next. Openside Probhert broke through the Blue and Blacks defence and bagged himself a brace.
The visitors then started applying more pressure on the hosts line moments later. From quickly spreading the ball out wide outside centre, Williams offloaded for Goodchild to score. This score also meant he has now scored 150 points for the club.
Then de la Rua crossed over before replacement Lloyd Lucas calmly slotted the three points which secured Fish’s side a 47-31 victory in North Wales and a six point bonus point win.
FT: Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 31-47 Cardiff