Cardiff RFC’s 150th-season celebrations continue on Saturday afternoon as the Blue and Blacks travel to Astley Park to face Brixham RFC in their second and final pre-season match on Saturday (KO: 14:30).
The Blue and Blacks head into the fixture following a convincing 99-7 victory against St Albans RFC at the Cardiff Arms Park.
On a sun-drenched afternoon in the Welsh capital, Cardiff crossed the whitewash 15 times, with back-row Aled Ward capping his outing with a hat-trick.
Ward was joined on the scoresheet by Dewi Cross, Sonny McCabe, Sonny Greenman, Jason Harries, Sean Moore and Ioan Leyshon as the Blue and Blacks raced into a 52-7 lead at half-time.
Tom Harper, Harry Turner, George Thomas, Louis Fletcher, Craig Hudd and Charlie Probert added further scores after the break, while both outside-halves Ben Coomer and Isaac Manning-Burke both contributed 12 points from the tee as Cardiff made an emphatic start to their pre-season campaign.
Summer arrivals Fletcher, Greenman and Harry Fry were all handed their first Cardiff RFC starts, whilst Probert, Will Bennett, Gabe Williams, and Charlie Rainbird also made their first appearances for the Blue and Blacks from the outset.
Thomas, Manning-Burke, Vinnay Cleak, Kian Lloyd, Owen Lewis, Calen Edwards and Harvey Bryant were introduced from the bench for their Cardiff RFC debuts.
Captain Hudd was pleased to put their training work into match practice, while also giving several players their first starts.
“We had a good hit out against St Albans,” said Hudd.
“It allowed some of the new players to get minutes in the legs for the first time for Cardiff RFC.
“For the rest of the squad to put some of the things we’ve practised in training into action.”
Saturday afternoon will be the second time that the Blue and Blacks have faced Brixham. The pair’s only previous meeting came in Cardiff’s tour to Devon and Cornwall in 1983, and that day they claimed a 25-12 victory.
On facing the Fishermen, who finished third in last season’s Regional 1 South West league, Hudd is relishing the challenge.
“Yes, we are looking forward to the game on the weekend against a completely unknown opponent, he added.
“It allows us to fully focus on what we have in our circle and concentrate on what we can put on the park on Saturday instead of worrying about what threat they have.”
After the encounter, the Blue and Blacks will quickly turn their attention to their opening Super Rugby Cymru game against Carmarthen Quins at Carmarthen Park on September 12th (KO: 14:30).
This comes before back-to-back home matches at Cardiff Arms Park against Swansea RFC and Pontypool RFC, followed by a Thursday night trip to face Ebbw Vale.
“It’s been a long pre-season with some tough running, and the boys are looking forward to the season getting underway,” Hudd said.
“We start with a tough trip to Carmarthen so it’s a great way to test how hard we’ve worked all off-season.”
To keep up to date with all the news surrounding the Blue and Blacks ahead of the new season, make sure to follow Cardiff RFC’s social media channels (X, Facebook, and Instagram) for the latest updates.
