Div 6 East, 17 Sep 2022, Magor 69 – 12 Girling; 22 Sep 2023, Girling 17 – 67 Magor

Div 6 East, 27 Jan 2024, Girling 5 – 32 Magor; 20 Apr 2024, Magor 88 – 5 Girling

Div 6 East, 13 Dec 2025, Girling 28 – 30 Magor; 20 Sep 2026, Magor 22 – 7 Girling

Div 6 East, 19 Sep 2026, Girling 34 – 19 Magor

As they say, all good things and, for Girling, all bad things must come to an end. After 6 league meetings between us, only interrupted by our dabble into Division 5, Girling finally and deservedly got one over on us. We are obviously disappointed to lose this match but sometimes it’s not all about winning. After more than two full seasons without a win, the resilient Girling club finally made it over the line and we are very happy for them – even the longest losing streaks have to come to an end!

It was Magor that struck first with a try from League debutant Adam Fennell converted by Ryan Bedborough. Girling struck back with a converted try of their own. It looked like the gods were smiling on us when Girling got a yellow card for a deliberate knock on but 5 minutes later we also received a yellow card, Jaxon Morgan putting in a late tackle and just one minute later Louis Kington also went to the sidelines with a yellow. Girling took advantage, once their player had returned, of the 15 vs 13 and went 12 – 7 up. Our two offenders returned but it was Girling who struck just before halftime to make the halftime score Girling 17 – 12 Magor.

Girling started rthe second half as they had finished the first with a penalty try but 20 minutes later Magor pulled back to 24 – 19 with a Ryan Bedborough try and conversion. Just a few minutes later though, Beds also received a yellow for a deliberate knock on and Girling took advantage and pulled away with two more unconverted tries to come out victorious 34 – 19.

Saturday 13 December 2025 K.O.14:30

Lucas Girling Sports Ground, Cwmbrân.

Girling RFC 28 – 30 Magor RFC

With Christmas on its way, this game was all about cards but it was a game most welcome after an eight week break from league action.

This was a game that Magor expected to win having taken the spoils at home earlier in the season but it was Girling who started the game with the first threat of a score. A break by the Girling number 8 from a scrum on halfway made it all the way to the Magor tryline but a try saving tackle from the Magor 10, Iestyn Rollings, kept the scores at nil all.

The lack of game time was evident in the opening quarter from the Magor boys, plenty of dropped balls. One saving grace was that the Magor scrum was definitely on top. The deadlock was broken after about 18 minutes though when Magor were awarded a kickable penalty in front of the Girling posts. The penalty was slotted over by number 12 Ellis Wainwright.

Girling struck right back though with a try under the posts which was converted. Girling 7 – 3 Magor. After the barren first quarter, the scores came thick and fast with Magor kicking another penalty to pull back to within a point.

Again, the next score came hot on the heels of the last and this time it was Girling who went over on the left wing. The tough touchline kick was missed but Girling were now edging ahead with a 12 – 6 lead. Magor needed a score and the score came from another dominant scrum that went straight to the backs with number 15 Aaron Boardman taking the spoils. The conversion was missed meaning Girling stayed in the lead by a single point.

Next came the first card of the game, awarded to number 8 Lee Cox, who had been everywhere up to that point, for a high tackle that actually might have been a case of mistaken identity. Girling took the opportunity of the three points that came with the card to stretch their lead to 15 – 11. The restart was a kick that maybe Iestyn Rollings won’t be watching back and allowed Girling to have one more first half attack but it came to nothing. Half time score Girling 15 – 11 Magor.

The second half started with Girling able to stretch even further ahead from a penalty but, like the first half, this was the only score in the first quarter of the second half.

Girling were pressing again but the ball was lost in a tackle and loosehead prop Iwan White picked up and released the backline. Late replacement Ryan Bedborough, Simon Reece and Ellis Wainwright linking well to ultimately release Iestyn Rolling who raced in from the halfway line for the try, the conversion from Ryan Bedborough bringing the scores level at 18 each.

Girling, though, kept pressing and took the lead from a penalty once again. The referee kept up the Christmas spirit with the second yellow card of the game and, unfortunately, the second yellow card for Lee Cox who was adjudged to have entered the ruck from the side. Lee had in fact injured his knee in the encounter and was carried off after a period of treatment. Like Rudolph’s nose the second yellow meant the card was red.

So trailing by three and a man down, Magor needed some kind of miracle, Christmas or otherwise. This came in the form of replacement right wing Tom Waters. The Magor 8 who were now down to 7 continued to be on top and drove the ball from a line out releasing the backs. After some nifty juggling, Iestyn Rollings passed to Aaron Boardman who timed his pass to perfection to put Tom in for the try. Ryan Bedborough got the extras to give Magor a slender lead.

Girling were not done yet though and managed to make the extra man count by creating a three man overlap to cross for a converted try and to take the lead again with just 5 or 6 minutes still to play, Girling 28 – 25 Magor.

How would this encounter end, well this is where the final card of the day popped up, the get out of jail card, masterfully played by Magor. The sense of urgency led to Magor’s best spell of play of the game. An innovative grubber kick from Rollings to restart was gathered by Ellis Wainwright and three replacements, Josh Buffery, Ryan Bedborough and Aeddan Erasmus kept the momentum going right up to the Girling 22. A penalty ensued and Magor kicked to touch with the clock in the red hitting the 5m line. From the subsequent lineout, the Magor forwards drove on and player/coach Chris Doddridge spun off the left of the maul to drop down for the try. The last kick of the game failed to convert and the game finished Girling 28 – 30 Magor.

This was a hard fought victory and Girling made it difficult right to the end but the day ended with a bonus point win for the Magor boys who rise to joint top in Division 6 East, a nice early Christmas present. Next week we go up against local rivals St. Julian’s High School Old Boys and hopefully we can finish 2025 on a high.

Magor: Aaron Boardman, Jaxon Morgan, Niall Roberts, Ellis Wainwright (c), Jonny Roberts, Iestyn Rollings , Ben Hampson, Lee Cox, Simon Reece, Connor Bergstrom, Danny Hodges, Andy Gully, Rhys Delap, Sam Doddridge, Iwan White

Replacements: Josh Buffery, Will Kinghan, Aeddan Erasmus, Chris Doddridge, Tom Waters, Ryan Bedborough

Magor Scorers: Tries – Aaron Boardman, Iestyn Rollings, Tom Waters, Chris Doddridge Conversion – Ryan Bedborough 2 Penalties – Ellis Wainwright 2

Girling Scores: Tries – 3, Conversions – 2

Referee: Owen Stone