Magor RFC

Recap

Saturday 27 September 2025 K.O.14:30

Cardiff University Sports Centre, Llanrumney.

Llanrumney RFC 43 – 20 Magor RFC

Our Division 5 Cup campaign started with the short trip down the motorway to Llanrumney RFC, a team we have never played before to play on the swanky, Cardiff University 4G pitch.

The proceedings started with a very respectful one minute silence in memory of Rhys & Louis Delap’s grandmother, Julie, who sadly passed away earlier in the week. The thoughts of the whole Magor family are with the Delaps at this sad time.

Llanrumney struck first just three minutes into the game with a try scored over on their right. No conversion but just 10 minutes later Llanrumney stretched the lead to 8 with a penalty kick in front of the posts.

Magor didn’t panic and exerted pressure on the Llanrumney defence with the Magor pack gaining the upper hand in a succession of scrums. The last one led to a penalty but the kick to touch unfortunately went dead allowing Llanrumney to clear. However, the goal line drop out just meant more Magor pressure until a penalty allowed the hosts to really get out of jail. Again Magor applied the pressure but the defense held firm until Magor were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which Matt Doddridge slotted over.

Magor carried on in the same vein with Danny Hodges, Jaden Quinn, Andy Gully all carrying well and the backs gaining ground through some sharp runs and tactical kicking. However, the boys were hit by a body blow. With a Llanrumney lineout on their 5m line thanks to a nice chip over the defence by Jason King giving a potential attacking opportunity, the Llanrumney number 8 took the ball and, like the parting of the Red Sea, a gap opened up which he took. Showing some great pace he basically raced the length of the pitch to score. The conversion made it Llanrumney 15 – 3 Magor.

Almost immediately after the restart, the hosts struck again creating a 4 on 1, which they didn’t squander, taking us into half time with Llanrumney now comfortably 22 – 3 up. Clearly the second half was going to be an uphill struggle.

The misery continued in the second half. The hosts rumbled up to halfway aided by a couple of penalties allowing their impressive back line to attack again. Try number four for the hosts and the game well and truly slipping away from us.

The boys didn’t give up and the visitors scored 10 minutes later. Again, plenty of Magor pressure and a dominant scrum put pressure on Llanrumney with Magor opting for a scrum at each penalty given away. Finally this paid off after Lee Cox, now on for original number eight and fellow coach Chris Doddridge, picked up and supplied Jason King. Morgan Davies hit the defensive line and eventually Andy Gully crossed for the try.

Yet again, Magor pressed with some great moments, Iestyn Rollings spotting a gap, Danny Hodges keeping the momentum by driving into the defensive line and an outrageous hand off from Lee Cox but a promising move was snuffed out by the Llanrumney hooker being offside and perhaps paying the price for a succession of penalties by earning a yellow card.

With the hooker replaced, of course Magor went for a scrum at the resulting penalty. Possession was scrappy but again Danny hit the defensive wall and Aeddan “Rassie” Erasmus picked up and crossed for the try. No conversion but Magor were gaining a little more respect.

Of course, the rugby gods were not looking favourably on us and a loose pass fell to the Llanrumney 10 who raced away to put their centre in under the posts. Again, just when Magor were clawing back into the game, a breakaway try killed the momentum. Llanrumney 36 – 13 Magor.

Magor were right back on the front foot and Ross Speirs crossed the try line but the ball was held up. The goal line drop out was caught by James Clement who beat four defenders and looked like he would go all the way until a desperate ankle tap stopped his forward motion. Lee Frost, Iestyn Rollings, Joel Palmizi all handled the ball down the line to Louis Bibby but again the home defence held firm and bundled Louis into touch.

Another Magor attack from a tapped penalty came to nothing when, in the opinion of this humble commentator, the home team deliberately knocked the ball forward to potentially deny us a try. Nothing more than a lineout to the home team came of it.

They say lightning doesn’t strike twice but here we were on the receiving end of yet another breakaway Llanrumney try. A loose ball in their half was pounced upon and popped up for the home 10 to race away.

Magor had the last word. A scrum just outside the home 22 gained some metres and Iestyn, who had played centre, 10 and 9 earning him a Man of the Match award fed Ross who broke the line to put Louis Bibby through and no one was going to stop him. Ross converted making the final score Llanrumney 43 – 20 Magor.

Sometimes you get the breaks and sometimes you don’t. Llanrumney certainly got the breaks but sometimes you also have to put your hands up and say the better team won and this was the case. We wish Llanrumney the best of luck in the rest of the competition.    

Magor: Morgan Davies, Aaron Boardman, Iestyn Rollings, Ross Speirs (C), Ben Hampson, Matt Doddridge, Jason King, Chris Doddridge, Joel Palmizi, Simon Reece, Danny Hodges, Andy Gully, Jaden Quinn, Josh Buffrey, Iwan White

Replacements: Sam Doddridge, Aeddan Erasmus, Lee Cox, James Clement, Lee Frost, Louis Bibby

Magor Scorers: Tries – Andy Gully, Aeddan Erasmus, Louis Bibby, Conversion – Ross Speirs, Penalty – Matt Doddridge

Llanrumney: Tries – 6, Conversions – 5, Penalty – 1

Referee: Nathan Hughes