Welsh National League
Division Four East


Thursday 1 May 2008

Abertillery are promoted!

 

Abertillery BG will be playing in Division Three East next season. Following Talywain's withdrawal from the division, their record has been expunged by the WRU regulatory committee. Consequently, points gained against them by opponents have been removed and with Abertillery not having yet played the eastern valley side, it leaves the Green & Whites six points clear of promotion rivals, Nantyglo with only one game left and thus unassailable as runners up behind Gwernyfed.

The promotion is the second successive progression for Abertillery following their fall to Division Five East after failing to raise a side five seasons back. The revival in the club's fortunes comes exactly a hundred years after they won the Monmouthshire League in 1908 and then drew with the Wallabies, which led to the team being recognised as a first-class club.

Many attribute the club's failure to raise side back in 2003 due to its stance not to pay players to play. Dropping from Division 2 to Division 5 East as a result, many feared for the future of rugby in the town. But the result was in fact the rebirth of the club which had taken on board on Blaenau Gwent as it returned to its local roots. New coaches Paul Rossiter and Mike James recruited instead through the youth ranks, sprinkled with some Abertillery old boys. The first two seasons in Division 5 East were successful with top five finishes before the club was promoted in 2006-2007 as champions with just one defeat away at Gwernyfed, who were also promoted.

This season, Gwernyfed deservedly also gained a second successive promotion, this time as champions having pipped the Green & Whites in both encounters by a single point in high-quality games. We are sure that Tillery supporters will offer their congratulations to the Talgarth side and sincere commiserations to promotion rivals, Nantyglo and also Rhiwbina, the only side to inflict defeat on the Green & Whites other than the champions.

So next season, we will renew our league acquaintances with Blaina and Rhymney and others as well as meeting some new opponents such as Croseyceiliog and Cwmbran.

I am sure that all supporters at the club wish to offer our thanks and gratitude to the players, coaches, management staff and committee for their tireless efforts. The supporters too deserve praise as a sixteenth man in many games, especially away.

With the youth also having gained promotion and the mini and juniors sides thriving - thanks to all the people and youngsters involved there - the future of Abertillery rugby seems much brighter than for many years. Well done to all - come on the Green & Whites!

DrD

 


LEAGUE REPORTS

Monmouth W 32-3
Llandaff W 17-7
Gwernyfed L 25-26
Rhiwbina W 10-7
Tredegar I D 25-25
Pembroke (c) L 0-13
Nantyglo W 22-17
Risca W 15-13
Cardiff HSOB (f) W 54-5
Rhymney (f) L 12-24
Machen W 46-10
Talywain  postponed
Porthcawl (f) W 26-10
Brynithel W 16-0
Caerleon (f) W 22-0
Abercarn W 27-3
Monmouth postponed
Llandaff W 15-3
Gwernyfed L 15-16
Talywain postponed
Rhiwbina L 11-20
Tredegar I W 12-5
Abergavenny (bf) W
Monmouth W 32-3
Nantyglo W 14-3
Risca postponed
Machen W 41-0
Talywain postponed
Brynithel W 18-6
Abercarn W 17-12
Risca