Cardiff RFC will continue their 150th-season celebrations on Saturday afternoon when they take on Brixham RFC at Astley Park (KO: 14:30).
The Blue and Blacks will bring their pre-season campaign to a close against the Fishermen, and this comes after a 99-7 victory against St Albans RFC.
Cardiff head to Devon buoyed by a convincing triumph last time out at the Cardiff Arms Park, in a fixture which saw several players make their debuts for the club.
Aled Ward claimed three of the Blue and Blacks’ 15 tries against The Buns, as Cardiff secured the spoils in the Welsh capital.
In the first half alone, Ward claimed his brace, whilst Dewi Cross, Sonny McCabe, Sonny Greenman, Jason Harries, Sean Moore and Ioan Leyshon also scored as the Blue and Blacks raced into a 52-7 lead at half-time.
Then a further six came in the final 40 minutes. Tom Harper, Harry Turner, George Thomas, Louis Fletcher, Craig Hudd and Charlie Probert scored, while Ben Coomer and Isaac Manning-Burke both slotted 12 points from the tee respectively.
This time around against the Fishermen, several players will make their first outings in pre-season, whilst both winger Iwan Pyrs-Jones and inside-centre Isaac Marsh will look to impress.
On some of the new faces in the Blue and Black’s starting XV this weekend, Rugby Manager Iestyn Williams said: “There will also be plenty of interest in seeing a few of those who have trained with the squad throughout pre-season get some game time and an opportunity to show what they can do.
“For Iwan and Isaac, it will be another chance to continue assessing the options available and see how some of the players who have impressed on the training field and see what they can offer in a match environment, as we saw against St Albans.
“It is another positive sign of the opportunities available within the squad, with pre-season providing the platform for players to put themselves into contention ahead of the new SRC campaign.”
Team News:
1. Vinnay Cleak
2. Ethan Coombes
3. Tom Harper
4. Craig Hudd- C
5. Tirion Bowen
6. Ben Fry
7. Charlie Probert
8. Aled Ward
9. Ethan Lloyd
10. Ben Coomer
11. Iwan Pyrs-Jones
12. Isaac Marsh
13. Tom Williams
14. Joe Goodchild
15. Sonny Greenman
Replacements:
16. Will Bennett
17. Louis Fletcher
18. Kian Lloyd
19. Jason Harries
20. Ioan Leyshon
21. Harvey Bryant
Pre-Match Thoughts:
Speaking ahead of the encounter, head coach Dan Fish said: “We’re a bit stretched on numbers going into the game on the weekend, but we have prepared well for our last hit out before the season starts.
“We welcome back a lot of experienced players, and by the end of the game on Saturday, all our players would have had a hit out before the season starts.
“It’s always exciting to play new opposition, and we are looking forward to the challenge Brixham will pose us, and I’m hoping the stuff we have worked on in training will come out in the game.”
The last meeting at Astley Park
Cardiff last travelled to Brixham back in April 1983, and claimed a 25-12 victory. Mark Ring claimed a brace that day, whilst Gerald Cordle, David Barry, and Martin Daly all scored to seal the victory in Devon.
The starting XV that day for the Blue and Blacks was: 15. Paul Rees, 14. Gerald Cordle, 13. David Barry, 12. Mark Ring, 11. Martin Daly, 10. Julian O’Brien, 9. Neil O’Brien; 1. Bob Newman, 2. Alan Phillips, 3. Steve Blackmore, 4. Tim Woodrow, 5. Howard Stone, 6. Bob Lakin, 7. Owen Golding, 8. Terry Charles (C).
In fact, this contest against Brixham came as part of Cardiff’s tour of Devon and Cornwall. This particular tour was a complete success, with further victories against St. Ives RFC 41-25 and Penzance Newlyn RFC 60-7.
For those unable to make the trip to Astley Park on Saturday afternoon, you can stay up-to-date with live updates across all Cardiff RFC social media channels (X, Facebook, and Instagram).
