Now firmly back on its feet, it marks a remarkable recovery for a club that pulled out of Division Three East C at the beginning of last season due to low player numbers. But they came back with a bang this season.
The resurrection started with a successful trip to Portugal last summer when the club were invited to represent Wales in the European City of Sport Tournament in Setubal – which they won.
That was the springboard for their National League return and a 100 per cent winning record saw them romp to the title in their comeback campaign – while their Ivor Jones District Cup triumph was the icing on the cake.
“We’re absolutely ecstatic,” said coach Jim Aylett. “Our main objective at the start of the season was to get 15 boys playing every Saturday and it’s really just evolved from that.
“We’ve pressed on and everything has sort of clicked together and here we are as double winners.”
On his standout game of the season, Aylett picked out the 18-8 win at title rivals Tredegar on April 15. “It has to be Tredegar away,” he says.
“They were chasing us and hoped to turn us over and we won with 14 men for most of the game – it was an epic effort.”
On their pending return to Division Three East C, he added: “If we can get through the summer with a good size again, then I have no doubt we can give the league above a good go as well.”
