Solving a Huge Dilemma: How Welsh Rugby Clubs Avoided a Fixture Clash

Key Highlights :

1. Two Welsh rugby clubs have been spared the ultimate fixture clash that would have seen them each have to play two matches on the same day. Morriston RFC and Pontarddulais RFC were due to meet in the Silver Ball final at Llanharan on May 13. But they also have league matches on the same day, with Morriston booked for an away encounter against Builth Wells in Division Two West Central and Pontarddulais scheduled to travel to Mumbles in Division Two West.

2. Morriston put out a social media post just days ago saying: “Incredibly on May 13th we have a league game (first v second) and Silver Ball final on the same day. Work that one out??”

3. Flexibility was hard to find, but Silver Ball organisers have now moved the final back to Wednesday, May 24, with Tata Steel the new venue.

4. “We got there in the end,” said Glamorgan County RFC president Howard Jones. “It took a lot of doing and we have had to change grounds for the final, but the key thing was the game would take place. We were determined the match would go ahead somehow.”

5. Morriston, whose assistant coach is former Wales fly-half Arwel Thomas, still find themselves facing a nightmare fixture glut, with the club having played two matches in as many days this week and three games over five days.

     Two Welsh rugby clubs have been spared from an ultimate fixture clash that would have seen them play two matches on the same day. Morriston RFC and Pontarddulais RFC were due to meet in the Silver Ball final at Llanharan on May 13. However, they also had league matches on the same day, with Morriston playing away against Builth Wells in Division Two West Central and Pontarddulais travelling to Mumbles in Division Two West.

     The situation was so difficult to solve that Morriston RFC posted on social media: “Incredibly on May 13th we have a league game (first v second) and Silver Ball final on the same day. Work that one out??”

     Flexibility was hard to find, but Silver Ball organisers eventually moved the final back to Wednesday, May 24, with Tata Steel being the new venue.

     Glamorgan County RFC president Howard Jones commented: “We got there in the end. It took a lot of doing and we had to change grounds for the final, but the key thing was the game would take place. We were determined the match would go ahead somehow.”

     Morriston RFC, whose assistant coach is former Wales fly-half Arwel Thomas, still faces a nightmare fixture glut, having played two matches in as many days this week and three games over five days.

     Team manager Hugh Lewis said: “It’s been like this for a few weeks. Our resources have been stretched, but it’s been a case of hands on deck and everyone doing their bit. We’ve been victims of our own success, with the club having a lot of cup games this year as we’ve made progress in a number of competitions, including the WRU Division Two Cup, which we won.”

     The change in the Silver Ball final date has solved the problem for both teams, as they can now focus on their respective league matches and the final. The Silver Ball is a prestigious competition and both Morriston RFC and Pontarddulais RFC want to do it justice.

     The fixture clash between Morriston RFC and Pontarddulais RFC was a huge dilemma that seemed impossible to solve. However, with the help of Silver Ball organisers, the clubs have been able to avoid the clash and focus on their respective league matches and the final.

Continue Reading at Source : walesonline