SALE JETS 57 GOGLEDD CYMRU 19

Mathew Parry kicks the conversion for one of Gogledd Cymru's three tries against Sale Jets.

This was always going to be a tough call for Gogledd Cymru, a rearranged fixture at the end of the season with work, injury, local cup games and rearranged club fixtures making 20 of the squad unavailable for selection. At the Sunday training session before the game it was clear that Gogledd Cymru would have a stripped down squad with only one substitute. The sudden withdrawal of Ynyr Edwards, six hours before kick off, in favour of a game for Rhyl and the failure of Iestyn Dafydd (Llangefni) to turn up left 14 players in the dressing room at Heywood Road wondering whether there was really a future for regional rugby in North Wales.

The team took the field with two players, both North Walians, "borrowed" from the Sale side.
Watched by Phillipe Saint Andre and Kingsley Jones, the side played with passion and flair scoring 3 excellent tries in a 57-19 defeat. This excellent performance changed the attitude of the players, who came off the field feeling positive about the future of rugby in the region. Coach Jon Aby was also pleased with the shape and character of the side and Andre and Jones were impressed by the attitude and tenacity of a side that was clearly playing for the future of rugby in the region.

There were excellent debut performances from James Salt (Llandudno) and Elgan Davies, James Jones and Grant Jones (Nant Conwy). There were fine touches from Rhodri Carlton-Jones (Llandudno) and Mathew Parry (Llangefni) controlled the game well from 10. Osian Edwards (Denbigh) stepped up to the mark, moving to hooker as Andrew Baston covered the gap in the back row. Llion Trefor the young Bethesda second row continues to show that he is a force for the future and Rhys Hughes (Ruthin) now in his 10th season playing for the regional team provided the motivation and inspiration to lift the players from their pre-match blues.

Being short of players happens even to Grand Slam teams. In the 1987 World Cup Wales also found themselves a player short. They called up a 19 year old Dai Young who happened to be in Australia and lost to New Zealand 49-6.

Establishing Gogledd Cymru was always going to be a non-linear process. The process continues.

7th MAY - A CELEBRATION OF NORTH WALES RUGBY

WEDNESDAY 7TH MAY

EIRIAS PARK

COLWYN BAY

GOGLEDD CYMRU

v

COMBINED ARMY CORPS

K.O. 7.30

AND

AN END OF SEASON CELEBRATION OF NORTH WALES RUGBY

7.00PM - COR GOGLEDD CYMRU

7-15 PM - APPEARANCES

BY

REGIONAL AND PREMIERSHIP PLAYERS

WOMENS, U16 AND U18 INTERNATIONALS

THE SUCCESSFUL U16 REEBOK TEAM

WINNERS OF THE NORTH WALES JUNIOR CUPS

+ HALF TIME MINI RUGBY GAME

GOGLEDD CYMRU TO ENTER PREMIERSHIP?

"2010 - 2011
A North Wales semi-professional team playing in the Premiership. This is a realistic goal and work towards setting up the organisation, administration, coaches, finances and facilities should start in 2006/2007. "
So reads Section 12.2 of the "North Wales Rugby Union Strategic Plan". Initiated by Gerald Davies in 2006 and approved by the WRU Exective, this public document lays out the future for rugby in North Wales. It is available in Welsh at http://www.geocities.com/districtjrugby/wplan.doc and English at http://www.geocities.com/districtjrugby/eplan.doc
In the past year Gogledd Cymru has demonsrated that it is rising to the challenge which this opportunity offers the fledgling regional side. This is what we have achieved.
1. We have established a product - Gogledd Cymru - with clear aims and objectives.
2. We have a training facility and pitch at Eirias Park Colwyn Bay which meets Premiership standard. It is also in the right geographical area to serve North Wales. This will be our home ground in 2008-9.
3. We have established a process of team development with players drawn from the clubs of North Wales.
4. We have fulfilled all the fixtures on a fixture list which exposes players to a higher level of rugby than Division 4.
5. We have engaged the local business community in financial support.
6. We have a management, coaching and medical team and a business plan which will take us to the Premiership.
7. We have reversed the negativity and cynicism about North Wales Senior Rugby

Gogledd Cymru aims to be the best team in Wales and most health conscious, player centric team in Europe. The team recognises that this a process which will not happen overnight. It has already demonstrated the organisational capability and ambition to function at the highest level.

Gogledd Cymru - Live the dream

STAFFORDSHIRE 34 GOGLEDD CYMRU 17

Anglesey seemed a long way away as the bus pulled into Burntwood RFC at 7.00pm on 2nd April, three and a half hours after leaving Bangor. Gogledd Cymru seemed even further from home at half time with a score of 27-0. Second half, the situation was reversed with Gogledd Cymru scoring 17 to Staffordshire's 7. It was the manner in which thes tries were scored that left a depleted team feeling positive about the evening's work.
Four players stepped into the Gogledd Cymru side at short notice to cover the injuries to wing Huw Parry, centres Robson and Carlton-Jones, backrow forwards Richard (Tin Tin) Hughes and Huw Jones and second row Rowlands, Haydock and Roberts.
It took a while for the new players to bed into the side but when Gogledd Cymru started to spread the ball wide in the second half they began to score. In all there were three tries, with Edwin Roberts and Andrew Baston scoring one each. Possession remained a major issue for Gogledd Cymru. The young pack with Llion Trefor(Bethesda), again outstanding, and Dewi James (Nant Conwy), playing his first game for the Gogs, had their work cut out. They missed the stablising influence of injured captain Will Bown.
Mathew Parry showed that he is returning to full fitness with good control of the game and Rhys Hughes was a pugnacious as ever around the scrum.
The Gogs pressurized the Staffordshire line in the second half and but for errors in decision making and handling would have scored more points. Gogledd Cymru were given an excellent welcome by the Staffordshire officials and look forward to this becoming a regular fixture.