Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy
 Aberavon Harlequins, winners in 1982, with the trophy | |
| Founded | 1956 |
|---|---|
| Region | Glamorgan, Wales |
| Current champions | Penallta RFC |
| Most successful club(s) | Glynneath RFC |
The Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy (also known as the Glamorgan County Brains Smooth Silver Ball Trophy) is a Welsh rugby union competition open to all non-premier Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) clubs playing in the Glamorgan area.[1]
History
The Silver Ball competition was suggested by Glamorgan County president Glan Williams in 1955. The first tournament took place in 1956 when J. Norman Hunt volunteered to meet the costs. It was open to all 64 WRU clubs in the Glamorgan region.[1] The Silver Ball Trophy was made by Birmingham-based trophy maker Thomas Fattorini Ltd and cost £100 to produce. The idea was to match eight junior teams against the county's eight first class sides, but a poor response from the senior teams resulted in the Welsh Academicals being drafted in to make a realistic quarter finals.[1]
The tournament also produces the SA Brains trophy which is awarded to the team to have scored the most tries during the buildup to the final. This team is then invited to play the Silver Ball winners in a pre-season friendly for the President's Cup.
The trophy is sponsored by Brains Smooth.[clarification needed]
Silver Ball Trophy finals
| Season | Winners | Losing Finalists | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956–57 | Taibach RFC | Skewen RFC | 9–3 | The Gnoll, Neath |
| 1957–58 | Welsh Academicals | Seven Sisters | 8–6 | Talbot Athletic ground Aberavon |
| 1958–59 | Maesteg Celtic RFC | Bargoed RFC | 6–3 | |
| 1959–60 | Seven Sisters RFC | |||
| 1960–61 | Glynneath RFC | Bargoed RFC | 12–0 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1961–62 | Glynneath RFC | Resolven RFC | 11–0 | The Gnoll Neath |
| 1962–63 | Glynneath RFC | Cwmgwrach RFC | The Gnoll Neath | |
| 1963–64 | Llantwit Major RFC | Taibach RFC | 3–0 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1964–65 | Llantwit Major RFC | Kenfig Hill RFC | Brewery Field Bridgend | |
| 1965–66 | Cwmgwrach RFC | Senghenydd RFC | 6–3 | The Gnoll Neath |
| 1966–67[2] | Cardiff Athletic RFC | Aberavon Quins RFC | 27–0 | Brewery Field, Bridgend |
| 1967–68[3] | Cardiff Athletic RFC | Taibach RFC | 27–3 | Brewery Field, Bridgend |
| 1968–69 | UWIC RFC | Penygraig RFC | 9–0 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1969–70 | UWIC RFC | Bridgend Sports RFC | 19–8 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1970–71[4] | Senghenydd RFC | Nantyffyllon RFC | 11–5 | Penygraig RFC |
| 1971–72 | Senghenydd RFC | Beddau RFC | 13–12 | Penygraig RFC |
| 1972–73 | Abercynon RFC | |||
| 1973–74 | Kenfig Hill RFC | Mumbles RFC | 3–0 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1974–75 | Taffs Well RFC | Pyle RFC | 9–6 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1975–76 | Pyle RFC | Abercynon RFC | 22–11 | Old Parish Maesteg |
| 1976–77 | Abercynon RFC | Llanharan RFC | 30–12 | Sardis Road Pontypridd |
| 1977–78 | Pyle RFC | British Steel RFC | 18–3 | Talbot Athletic Ground |
| 1978–79 | Bridgend Sports RFC | Llanharan RFC | 16–7 | Old Parish Maesteg |
| 1979–80 | Bridgend Sports RFC | Pyle RFC | 9–3 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1980–81 | Bridgend Sports RFC | Cilfynydd RFC | 20–9 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1981–82 | Aberavon Quins RFC | Neath Athletic | 22–14 | Old Parish Maesteg |
| 1982–83 | Swansea Athletic RFC | |||
| 1983–84 | Cilfynydd RFC | Seven Sisters RFC | 12–0 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1984–85 | Cilfynydd RFC | |||
| 1985–86 | St. Peters RFC | Rumney RFC | 10–9 | Cardiff Arms Park Cardiff |
| 1986–87 | Tondu RFC | Vardre RFC | ||
| 1987–88 | Neath Athletic RFC | Glamorgan Wanderers A RFC | Brewery Field Bridgend | |
| 1988–89 | Llantrisant RFC | Bridgend Athletic RFC | 35–12 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1989–90 | Beddau RFC | Maesteg Celtic RFC | 31–0 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1990–91 | Tondu RFC | |||
| 1991–92 | Tondu RFC | Cardiff Quins RFC | 18–7 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1992–93 | Tondu RFC | Tonmawr RFC | 22–14 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1993–94 | Llantrisant RFC | Glynneath RFC | 20–16 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1994–95 | Tonyrefail RFC | Gilfach Goch RFC | Brewery Field Bridgend | |
| 1995–96 | Resolven RFC | Penygraig RFC | 12–10 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1996–97 | Gilfach Goch RFC | Treherbert RFC | 31–13 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 1997–98 | Gilfach Goch RFC | British Steel RFC | Sardis Road Pontypridd | |
| 1998–99 | Ynysybwl RFC | Nantymoel RFC | Sardis Road Pontypridd | |
| 1999-00 | Glamorgan Wanderers RFC | Beddau RFC | 28–21 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 2000–01 | Maesteg Harlequins RFC | Vardre RFC | 20–17 | Brewery Field, Bridgend |
| 2001–02 | British Steel RFC | Bridgend Athletic RFC | 26–22 | Brewery Field, Bridgend |
| 2002–03 | Penygraig RFC | Pontypridd RFC | 30–25 | The Dairy Field Llanharan |
| 2003–04 | Banwen RFC | Maesteg RFC | 36–27 | Virginia Park, Caerphilly |
| 2004–05[5] | Penallta RFC | Rhydyfelin RFC | 43–30 | Sardis Road Pontypridd |
| 2005–06 | Ynysybwl RFC | Tonna RFC | 21–14 | Sardis Road, Pontypridd |
| 2006–07 | Tonmawr RFC | Penallta RFC | 26–24 | Sardis Road, Pontypridd |
| 2007–08[6] | Tonmawr RFC | Aberavon Green Stars RFC | 50–12 | The Dairy Field Llanharan |
| 2008–09 | Aberavon Quins RFC | Llantwit Fardre RFC | 17–3 | The Dairy Field Llanharan |
| 2009–10[7] | Tonmawr RFC | Tondu RFC | 26–15 | Brewery Field, Bridgend |
| 2010–11[8] | Maesteg Harlequins RFC | Mountain Ash RFC | 19–16 | Brewery Field, Bridgend |
| 2011–12[9] | Glynneath RFC | Maesteg Harlequins RFC | 13–10 | The Dairy Field Llanharan |
| 2012–13 | Bedlinog RFC | Tondu RFC | 29–10 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 2013–14 | Glynneath RFC | Rhiwbina RFC | 34–15 | Brewery Field Bridgend |
| 2014–15 | Penallta RFC | Ystrad Rhondda RFC | 22–17 | Talbot Athletic Ground Aberavon |
Competition multiple winners
- Five Wins
- Glynneath RFC
- Four wins
- Tondu RFC
- Three wins
- Bridgend Sports RFC
- Tonmawr RFC
- Two wins
- Aberavon Quins RFC
- Abercynon RFC
- Cardiff Athletic
- Cilfynydd RFC
- Gilfach Goch RFC
- Llantrisant RFC
- Llantwit Major RFC
- Maesteg Harlequins RFC
- Penallta RFC
- Pyle RFC
- Senghenydd RFC
- UWIC RFC
- Ynysybwl RFC
References
- ^ a b c Chalmers, Ron (20 January 2011). "Ravens top Silver Ball table". Glamorgan Gazette. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ Davies (1975) p.154
- ^ Davies (1975) p.157
- ^ Owen, Arwyn, ed. (1972). Welsh Brewers Ltd Rugby Annual for Wales 1971–72. Cardiff: Welsh Brewers Ltd. p. 58.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|trans_title=(help) - ^ "Penalta win Silver Ball final". WRU.co.uk. 22 January 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ^ Welsh Rugby Union (11 May 2008). "Tonmawr retain Glamorgan County Silver Ball". WRU.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ^ Evans, Howard (29 May 2010). "Worthington's Silver Ball Final – Tonmawr 26 Tondu 15". WRU.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ^ "Maesteg Quins win Silver Ball". Western Mail. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "O'Reilly shines in Silver Ball final as Glynneath fightback to win trophy". Western Mail. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
Bibliography
- Davies, D.E. (1975). Cardiff Rugby Club, History and Statistics 1876–1975. Risca: The Starling Press. ISBN 0-9504421-0-0.
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