The Aberaron 7s return to action this Bank Holiday week end with the usual large crowd of sevens enthusiasts expected at picturesque Parc Drefach, overlooking Cardigan Bay writes Huw S Thomas.
The ever popular tournament – now sponsored by Bargoed Farms – started in 1970, in the amateur era and attracted world famous players from all parts of the British Isles.
JPR Williams, Phil Bennett, Tony Ward, Gerald Davies and Jim Renwick were just a handful of household names to regularly appear and although the professional era has now robbed the tournament of star names, its popularity has never waned.
Last year’s final was an exciting, close run affair with the result in doubt until the very end before Preseli Baa Baas took the £500 prize in pipping Llandovery 22-19.
Outstanding for the Drovers were scrum half and captain Dafydd Land, Ilan Phillips, Elis Lewis and Cai Davies but the Preseli side gained most of the possession and this proved decisive in the four tries to three game .
Tries from skipper Dean James, Tomos Phillips, Eilir George and Ianto Davies against a brace from Thomas and one from Land clinched the title for the former pupils of Ysgol Preseli.
Llandovery continue to be the only Super Rygbi Cymru side to support the tournament, much to the appreciation of the Aberaeron club who are very much dependent on money raised at the annual event to fund their running costs.
It is sad that the other SRC clubs do not send teams, particularly this year when the new season does not start for three weeks, on September 14
Another SRC side in Carmarthen Quins could surely muster together a dozen players whilst Swansea, Cardiff and Newport who were always well represented, would again add lustre to the day.
The Drovers are unlikely to field many of the outstanding backs who helped the club win last year’s WRU Cup and Indigo Premiership – the likes of Lee Rees, the Warren brothers Adam and Aaron and Rhodri Jones – but flankers Jordan Evans and Lewis Elli-Jones will add experience to the young squad.
Exciting youngsters Sam Potter and Harri Morgan, alongside ex-Merthyr back Morgan Meaclem had excellent games in the friendly against Swansea University on Saturday and will be important men in the sevens challenge
Preseli, will again be hard to beat, given they have already had a number of successes.
The Pembrokeshire title holders will field most of last year’s squad and have won both Teifi and Heart of Wales tournaments this summer.
If Ebbw Vale wing Amir Jiwa Walji is available to them, they will have a potential match winner in their ranks.
Last year, the Warriors – captained by Cardigan’s Shaun Leonard – lost to Llandovery in sudden death after drawing 17-17 in the semi-final.
Under the direction of player coach and now manager Arwel Davies, they have won the Aberaeron Sevens eight times and will, again, sure to be in the mix.
Newcastle Emlyn, newcomers Llandeilo, Aberaeron’s “24 Crew” and Glantaf Goats (former pupils of Cardiff’s Ysgol Glantaf) will be hoping to create the odd shock.
Llanybydder based Spuds, mid Wales Rams, New Quay Yachters are unknown quantities but the biggest cheer of the day will be in support of Lewis Penlan.
A team of Lewis cousins with a link to local farm Penlan, Llanarth, they will be under the guidance of former Llandovery College, Newport, Ebbw Vale and London Welsh player Tom James..
With a relaunched ladies tournament also on Sunday’s programme, play will be continuous throughout the day with the men’s final scheduled for 6 00 pm
Carmarthen Warriors, Rams and local sides Lampeter and Tregaron will do battle in the Ladies competition with Tregaron fielding a ladies team for the very first time in their first competitive game ever.
By next year, Parc Drefach will have a second pitch available and this will open up new opportunities to expand the competition.
A bigger ladies competition, and a second-tier or social competition are considerations a steering committee are mulling over.
Schedule
Saturday 24th August – Under U8s, U10s, U12s and U14s competitions
Sunday 25th August – Senior Men’s competition and a Ladies competition
Provisional Llandovery squad for Aberaeron
Jordan Evans (capt), Lewis Ellis-Jones, Daf Francis, Finn Thomas, Harri Holden, Ben Thomas, Harri Morgan, Fraser Gregory, Cellan Carter-Jones, Morgan Meaclem, Sam Potter