Cardiff RFC rounded off their pre-season campaign with a trip to Astley Park to face Brixham RFC, renewing a fixture that has not been played for more than four decades.
The Blue and Blacks made the long 272-mile round-trip for their second and final pre-season outing, with the encounter against The Fisherman marking the first time the two clubs have faced each other since 1983.
With the new Super Rygbi Cymru season on the horizon, the fixture in Devon provided one final opportunity for players to stake their claim for a spot in the opening match-day squad that will face Carmarthen Quins on the 12th of September.
Head coach Dan Fish made several changes to the side that started against St Albans RFC at the Cardiff Arms Park in their opening pre-season game, which saw the Blue and Blacks claim the spoils 99-7.
Loose-head Vinnay Cleak made his first start for the club, after coming off the bench against The Buns, whilst captain Craig Hudd appeared for the first time in the starting XV this pre-season.
Ethan Coombes made his debut for the club at hooker, whilst tight-head Tom Harper completed the front-row. Accompanying Hudd in the second-row was Tirion Bowen, who was making his first start since facing Carmarthen in February.
Aled Ward remained at number eight after claiming a hat-trick in his last outing, and was joined by Charlie Probert and Ben Fry to complete the back-row.
Ethan Lloyd joined Ben Coomer as the Blue and Blacks’ half-back pairing, while Tom Williams, who was making his twentieth appearance for the club, was joined by debutant Isaac Marsh in midfield.
In the back-three, Iwan Pyrs-Jones made his first appearance for the Blue and Blacks since March 2022 against Newport, and was accompanied by Joe Goodchild and Sonny Greenman.
Speaking following the encounter, head coach Fish said: “Tough physical game with tricky weather conditions.
“Brixham came out firing and started to get on top.
“We missed a couple of chances, which fed them possession and territory.
“We finally managed to score a couple of decent tries, but we weren’t happy with the first half.
“In the second-half we stuck to the game-plan, and applied more pressure on Brixham and managed to run away with the game with a couple of good team tries.”
Story of the Game
After weeks of sunshine and soaring temperatures that have faced the Blue and Blacks in pre-season, the weather offered Cardiff the complete opposite in Devon.
Conditions were miserable as rain greeted the Blue and Blacks on their arrival at Astley Park, although it had eased by the time the side began their warm-ups.
With all that said, outside-half Ben Coomer got proceedings underway into the wind, and immediately the visitors were on the front foot.
Following a fast start, against a spirited defence, the Blue and Blacks eventually managed to score their first try of the afternoon, after 11 minutes.
This came after several breaks and carries, as Cardiff were nearing the whitewash, and the visitors were penalised. After the catch and drive, debutant Coombes scored his first try for the club and broke the deadlock.
Coomer slotted the extras as the visitors led 7-0. The hosts then put the Blue and Blacks under heavy pressure, but their defence held firm as Brixham could not find a way through.
Number eight Ward was then replaced by Kian Lloyd before the 30-minute mark. This came before Cardiff claimed their second of the contest.
Playing his first game for the club in over four years, winger Pyrs-Jones raced over for the visitors’ second of the contest, after a timely offload by Sonny Greenman.
Coomer this time around could not add the extras, and prior to the break Jason Capaldi deservedly scored the hosts’ first of the contest.
HT: Brixham RFC 5-12 Cardiff RFC
The Blue and Blacks started the second half with strong attacking intent. Pyrs-Jones made a darting break, but the visitors could not capitalise.
Replacement Harvey Bryant, who replaced inside-centre Williams, scored after a brilliant break and offload by Ioan Leyshon. Coomer added the extras, which saw the visitors’ lead grow to 14 points after 49 minutes.
As the rain began to fall again across Astley Park, it didn’t hinder fullback Greenman from scoring his second of pre-season after he made a brilliant break to cross the whitewash.
Almost instantly, Bryant claimed his brace, and with Coomer adding the extras, the deficit before the final quarter was 28 points. On the hour mark, winger Bryant scored to claim his hat-trick, and this followed some great handling from the Blue and Blacks.
Coomer once again added the extras, and this was soon followed by Pyrs-Jones claiming his brace. Greenman once again showed his worth with ball in hand, and this allowed the winger to score his second of the contest; Coomer added the extras.
Two minutes later, Coomer made an expertly crafted break, and this allowed Pyrs-Jones to show his pace and claim his hat-trick. This was soon followed by Brixham hunting for their second of the contest.
Once again the Blue and Blacks showed great strength in defence to disallow Matt Crosscombe from scoring after a powerful carry.
With only a matter of minutes left on the clock, scrum-half Lloyd snuck his way up the touchline to claim the visitors’ ninth of the contest.
Coomer impressed again from the tee, which saw Cardiff claim a 59-5 victory. Up next for the Blue and Blacks is a trip to Carmarthen Park to face Carmarthen Quins in their opening Super Rygbi Cymru match.
