The Mountain Ash RFC Club Cap
The Club Cap was introduced in the Centenary Season of 1975/76 to reward those who had played 250 1st XV games throughout their playing career with the Club.
During the Centenary Season, 45 games were played and up until the start of League rugby in 1990/91, the average number of games played in a season was 38. If a player played all these games, season in, season out, it would take him 250/38 = approximately 6 ½ years to gain a Club cap.
When League rugby was introduced in 1990/91, the number of games started to decline due to League games dominating the fixture list of all Clubs, with so-called friendly games becoming a thing of the past and midweek games becoming almost extinct.
From 1990/91 to 2006/07, the average number of games played fell to 29. At this rate, it would have taken a player 250 games /29 games per season = approximately 8 ½ years, without missing a match, to play 250 games and be awarded a cap. This was thought too much.
The number of 1st XV appearances needed for a Club cap was therefore brought down to 200. With 29 games on average being played each season from 1990 on, it would take a player 200 games / 29 games per season = approximately 6 to 7 years of consistent 1st XV rugby for a Club cap, which was in line with pre-1990 seasons.
The Club cap is a reward for many seasons of 1st XV rugby at Mountain Ash RFC, and, when injuries, competition for 1st XV places, loss of form and personal circumstances are taken into account, it is a reward for up to a decade of 1st XV rugby and is a great achievement for any player.
General Information about Players Awarded a Club Cap
Club cap holders include a father and son combination - David and Meirion Thomas - and two sets of brothers - Gareth and Andrew Roberts, and Michael and Peter Cushion.
18 capped players have captained the 1st XV for 37 seasons in total, 6 have captained the 2nd XV for a total of 7 seasons, and 8 have captained the Youth team for a total of 6 seasons.
List of Capped Players
1975 to Date
Name
Position
Season
Tom Pullman
Scrum Half
1975-1976
Terry Williams
Flanker
Wynford Matthews
Wing
1977-1978
Alun E. Davies
1979-1980
David Evans
Outside Half
Allan Muxworthy
Hooker
Tony Rees
Loosehead Prop
Peter Harris
1981-1982
Philip R. Jenkins
Second Row
Philip A. Jenkins
Centre
David Thomas
Brian Evans
Tight Head Prop
1983-1984
Graham Jones
Gareth Roberts
Full Back
1984-1985
Adrian Davies
1988-1989
Andrew Roberts
1989-1990
Stephen Pascoe
1991-1992
Mark Bennett
1992-1993
Michael Cushion
1994-1995
Anthony Hughes
Peter Rees
1995-1996
Roger Parfitt
1997-1998
Peter Cushion
2000-2001
Richard Johnson
2003-2004
Gavin Roberts
2006-2007
Mark Anderson
Meirion Thomas
2010-2011
Chris Edmunds
Scott Davies
Dale Keepin
2011-2012
Gavin Powell
Dean O’Brien
2012-2013
Craig Evans
2013-2014
Richard Griffiths
Kriss Sanders
Backrow
2015-2016
James Cowdry
Matthew Parfitt
Unveiling of Club Cap Board
18 March 2016
Below, Club President and the first recipient of a 1st XV Cap, Tom Pullman, unveils the new board on Friday 18 March 2016 at the clubhouse:
Career Information About All Capped Players
Scrum half Tom Pullman was the first to receive a Club cap in the Club’s Centenary season of 1975/76, which was his 7th season as 1st XV captain – the most by any Mount player in the 20th century. When he received his cap, he had already played 380+ games and in April 1976, in the game against the Welsh Academicals – a game Mount won 13-12 – he made his 400th 1st XV appearance. In his first season as captain in 1966/67, the Old Firm set a new post War record of 26 wins, and he went on to play in all the top games of the 1970s. By the time he retired in 1978, he had played over 500 1st XV games, meaning he should really have had two caps to his name!
Terry Williams was also awarded his Club cap in 1975/76. He was a flanker and skilful footballer who was Youth captain in 1960/61 and 1st XV captain in 1969/70. He and Tommy Pullman were the first two players to receive a Club cap. He was not far behind Tommy Pullman and played his 347th 1st XV game in the same Welsh Academicals game in April 1976 as mentioned above.
Wynford Vaughan-Matthews
Wynford Vaughan-Matthews played for Mountain Ash Youth in the mid 1960s. While still a Youth played, he was a member of the 2nd XV which won the Ivor Williams Cup for a first time in 1965/66, beating Beddau 2nd XV 8-5. The feat was almost repeated in 1966/67 when he was 2nd XV Captain, the team being unbeaten until February and going on to regain the Ivor Williams Cup, losing in the final. He was also a member of the 7s team which won the Rhondda and East Glamorgan 7s competition in 1967/68. He progressed to the 1st XV and was a regular throughout the 1970s, gaining his cap in 1977/78.
Alun Davies was a team-mate of Wynford Matthews in the Youth teams of the mid 1960s. He was another skilful flanker and went on to captain the 1st XV twice, in 1972/73 and 1977/78. He had a stint for a couple of years in “first class” rugby with Newbridge before returning to play for the Club, eventually being capped in 1979/80 after playing his 250th 1st game. He was also a member of the Athletic XV which won the Ivor Williams Cup in 1980/81, scoring a try in the 15-7 final win over Llantrisant 1st XV and finished his career by captaining the 2nd XV in 1985/86, which was his 21st season of rugby with the Club.
David was predominantly an outside half but also played scrum half. He came through the ranks of Mountain Ash Youth and was a member of the team which won the Devon 7s in 1969/70. He was 1st XV captain for two consecutive seasons in 1978/79 and 1979/80 and made 1979/80 a season to remember for him personally by being awarded his Club cap in recognition of 250 1st XV appearances, and leading the team to the last 16 of the WRU Cup, beating Ynysybwl, Aberaman and Abercynon on the way.
Allan was a hooker who was another player came through the Youth XV. He was 2nd XV captain in 1970/71 and progressed to the 1st XV, gaining his Club cap in 1979/80.
Tony was a member of the 1966/67 Youth team and went on to play for 20 years, retiring in 1986/87. During this time he played 561 1st XV games which is the highest number played by any player. He gained his Club cap in 1979/80 and captained the 1st XV in 1982/83. After playing and captaining Glamorgan County for several seasons in the 1980s, he was awarded his County cap in 1985/86. In addition to this, he was also awarded his Mid District cap.
Peter was a fit, fast and furious openside flanker who played throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He captained the 1st XV in 1980/81 when the team got to the semi-final of the Mid District Cup, going out on try count after a 10 all draw at Senghenydd. He has the distinction of being one of the few Welsh captains to be on the winning side against New Zealand opposition, Goldfields being beaten at the Rec 20-18 in October 1980, Peter having to leave the field with a black eye in the second half but returned to play his 250th 1st XV game and gain his cap in 1981/82.
Phillip R. Jenkins
Phil Jenkins was a second row forward who was a middle of the line jumper, supplying plenty of ball to the talented Mount backs. He played for the Club throughout the 1970s and contributed to the Old Firm’s memorable WRU Cup run during the Centenary Season of 1975/76 with appearances against Pyle, Waunarlwydd and Bridgend in the last 16, and the win against the Welsh Academicals South Wales Police. He was also a member of the 1979/80 team which again made the last 16 for the second time in five years. He was capped in 1981/82 and during his playing career with the Club, also gained his Mid District Rugby Union cap.
Phil was a centre who played Youth rugby for the Club in the late 1960s. Like Peter Harris, he has the distinction of scoring a try against New Zealand opposition, against Goldfields in the October 1980 20-18 win. He captained the 1st XV twice, in 1976/77 and 1981/82 and was capped in his second year of captaincy. He went on to become Club Chairman for three seasons from 1991 to 1994 and was the driving force behind the development of Duffryn Pennar Park.
David was a flanker who played for Mountain Ash Youth in the early 1970s before progressing to the 1st XV at a comparatively young age and played in the Centenary season of 1975/76. He gained his cap in 1981/82 and went on to captain the 1st XV for two consecutive seasons from 1983 to 1985, winning Section B of the Mid District Rugby Union championship in 1984/85.
Brian was a tight head prop who played in the front row with Tony Rees and Allan Muxworthy, who also gained Club caps. He played his 250th 1st XV game against Swansea University in March 1984 at the Rec, which was a game won 19-12, Brian leading the team onto the field.
Graham was a member of the Mountain Ash Youth team which won the Rhondda and East Glamorgan Cup in 1971/72. He went on to play centre at senior level and was capped in 1983/84.
Gareth played most of his rugby at full back and wing but also played at outside half and centre during his playing career. He was also a goal kicker. He first played in the Club’s Centenary Season of 1975/76 and kicked goals against Waunarlwydd and Bridgend in the WRU Cup run, and scored 12 points in the win over Goldfields in October 1980. He was capped in 1984/85 against Ynysybwl, which was a game played at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School.
Adrian was a second row and another player who progressed from Mountain Ash Youth. He made his 1st XV debut against Bedwas in the 10-0 win in April 1979. He went on to become a lynchpin in the Mount pack and was a key member of the teams which won Section B of the Mid District Rugby Union in 1984/85, Section A in 1985/86 and the Mid District Championship in 1989/90. He gained his Club cap in 1988/89 and added to this in 1991/92 when he was awarded his Glamorgan County cap.
Andrew was a scrum half who came through the Youth ranks at the same time as Adrian Davies. He captained the Youth in 1978/79 and played in the teams that won Section A and B and the Mid District championship in the 1980s. He captained the 1st XV in 1987/88 and also captained the 2nd XV in 1991/92 and 1993/94, when the team won the Ivor Williams Cup three years in succession, two being under his captaincy. He is the only player to have captained all three Club sides – 1st XV, 2nd XV and Youth and was capped in 1989/90.
Stephen Pascoe was a talented flanker who had the ball in his hands during a game more than most players. He started playing for Mountain Ash Youth in 1980/81 and captained the team in 1982/83 when they won the Rhondda and East Glamorgan Cup. In 1985/86, he became one of the youngest 1st XV captains for many years and made it a year to remember as Section A of the Mid District League was won. He served a second term as captain the year after and played in the Mid District championship winning side of 1989/90. In 1991/92, as well as playing his 250th 1st XV game for the Club and being awarded his cap, he captained the Old Firm for a third season, and played in the epic WRU Cup run that season which saw Llanelli visit the Rec on one of the most famous days Mountain Ash RFC has had in its long and proud history.
Mark Bennett was predominantly a running outside half who lit up many a game. His talents didn’t end there either as he could also kick goals when called upon. He played for Mountain Ash Youth from 1979/80 on and quickly made an impression. He made his senior debut in 1981/82 and, along with a talented group of Youth players, progressed into the senior ranks. He was a member of the Mount teams which won the Mid District Rugby Union’s Section B division in 1984/85 and then Section A in 1985/86, and the Mid District Championship in 1989/90, which took the Club into Division 2 of the newly formed Heineken League which started in 1990/91. In 1992/93, he completed a memorable “double” by gaining his Club cap and captaining the team to 2nd place and promotion to Division 1. He finished his playing career at the Club by being playing a crucial part in the WRU Cup run of 1994/95, kicking a last minute penalty in Whitland, which was a game the Old Firm won on the way to a last 8 spot for the first time.
Michael Cushion was a centre with pace, class and guile who left opposition defences chasing shadows on several occasions. He was another player who first played for Mountain Ash Youth and was a member of the team which won the Rhondda and East Glamorgan Cup in 1982/83. He made an immediate impression when he played 1st XV rugby from 1984/85 on and was a member of the teams which won the Mid District Rugby Union’s Section B in 1984/85 and then Section A in 1985/86, and the Mid District Championship in 1989/90, which took the Club into Division 2 of the newly formed Heineken League which started in 1990/91. He also played a part in the WRU Cup run of 1991/92, playing in the famous Llanelli game. In 1994/95 he was awarded his Club cap and played a big part in the WRU Cup run which saw the Old Firm get to the last 8 of the competition for the first time, losing to Pontypridd at Sardis Road.
Anthony Hughes was another player who started his rugby at the Club in 1980/81, playing for the Youth. He made his 1st XV debut in 1982/83 and was part of the Old Firm team, along with Stephen Pascoe, Mark Bennett and Michael Cushion, which won the Mid District Rugby Union’s Section B in 1984/85 and then Section A in 1985/86, and the Mid District Championship in 1989/90. He captained the 1st XV in 1988/89 and even though he a back injury forced him out of action for a spell, he came back stronger than ever and played throughout the 1990s, featuring in the successful first season of League rugby in 1990/91, the Llanelli game in the WRU Cup in 1991/92 and the WRU Cup last 8 run of 1994/95, which was also the season he gained his Club cap.
What a loyal Clubmen hooker Peter Rees and fellow hooker Roger Parfitt were. Both vied for the 1st XV hooking position for at least 10 seasons and both ended up playing 250 1st XV games each and gaining the coveted Club cap. Neither of them would give an inch but neither of them ever thought about moving to another Club either. Both gave their all, both trained hard and were, and still are, great examples for a young player to follow. Peter was an athletic hooker who was fit and had a turn of pace, and very competitive. He started playing for the Club in the Youth teams of the mid 1970s and played throughout the 1980s, the 1990s and came back when he was 44 in the Club’s hour of need in 2001/02 to represent the 1st XV from November until the end of the season, which was a great gesture on his part and showed his commitment to the cause. He was capped in 1995/96.
Roger Parfitt was another player who started his time with the Club in the Youth team of 1980/81. As mentioned, he competed for the hooking position with Peter Rees for many years and during his career was part of the Youth team which won the Rhondda and East Glamorgan Cup in 1982/83, and the 1st XV which won the Mid District Rugby Union’s Section B in 1984/85, Section A in 1985/86, and the Mid District Championship in 1989/90. He played throughout the 1990s, being capped in 1997/98and taking part in the WRU Cup runs of 1990/91 and 1994/95 and played into the 2000s, eventually playing in the same Mount team as his son, Matthew.
Peter Cushion played most of his rugby as a centre but also played on the wing when required. He played in the 1983/84 Youth team which came close to winning the “double”, losing two close finals to Tonyrefail Youth in the Cup and League finals. While still a Youth player, he made his debut against Beddau in the semi-final of the Mid District Cup in 1984/85, scoring a try in Mount’s 15-10 win. He became a senior player in 1985/86 and was part of the 1st XV squad that won Section A of the Mid District League. He was also a member of the 1989/90 Mid District Championship winning team and played throughout the first season of League rugby in 1990/91 when the Old Firm finished 3rd. He played full back against Llanelli in the WRU Cup match of 1991/92. He continued to play throughout the 90s, gaining his Club cap and captaining the 1st XV in 2000/2001.
Richard Johnson was a wing who was part of the Mountain Ash Youth team which almost lost out in two finals in 1983/84. In 1985/86, he was part of the Youth 7s team which won the Rhondda & East Glamorgan 7s competition at Merthyr. He made his 1st XV debut in 1986/87. He played a part in winning the Mid District Championship in 1989/90 and the Division 2 promotion season of 1992/93. After finishing player for several seasons, he returned in 2003/04 to play his 250th game and gain his Club cap during the season.
Gavin Roberts was the first player from the Club’s Under 16s to go on to gain a Club cap. He started playing Junior rugby in the late 1980s, playing at outside half, where he had an eye for a gap and the pace to go with it. He went on to be part of the successful 1995/96 Youth team which won the Rhondda & East Glamorgan Merit Table and came runners-up in the Cup final. He made his 1st XV debut in 1996/97 and played most of his rugby on the wing. He was part of the 1st XV squad which got to the Mid District Cup finals of 1996/97 and 1997/98. He started to establish himself as a full back and quickly made the position his, gaining his Club cap in 2006/07.
Mark Anderson was an athletic, powerful back five forward with the speed of a back, and scored some memorable tries. Whereas now, such athletic players are the “norm”, Mark was the exception in the mid 1990s and was, in effect, 20 years in front of the times. He played for the Club’s junior teams at Under 14 and 16 level before moving up to the Youth. He became a senior player in 1995/96 and scored a dramatic try in injury time in the Mid District Cup that season against Hirwaun which won the game for the Old Firm 31-27. In 2004/05, he held the 1st XV captaincy jointly with flanker Scott Davies, who was injured early in the season. He gained his cap in 2006/07 and continued playing, contributing to the Old Firm winning the Division 2 East championship, unbeaten, in 2010/11, and played his last 1st XV game in December 2013.
Meirion Thomas was a scrum half from the first time he played rugby for the Club as a junior player to his last 1st appearance in 2013/14. He came through the Youth and junior ranks, captaining the Youth team in 2001/02 and made his 1st XV debut the season after, in 2002/03, making 20 appearances in total. There was no holding him from then on and he went on to play over 20 games each season until 2011/12. He played a big part in the promotion teams of 2004/05 and the unbeaten Division 2 East championship winning team of 2010/11, and 2009/10 when the Old Firm won the Mid District Cup, beating Merthyr 21-16 in the final. He made 2010/11 a truly memorable season by playing his 200th 1st XV game and being awarded his Club cap.
Chris Edmunds is a backrow forward, able to play Number 8 or blindside flanker. He started playing junior rugby for the Club in the early 1990s when he was just 12 years of age. He was part of the Youth team which won the Rhondda & East Glamorgan Merit Table in 1998/99. He made his 1st XV debut in 2001/02 and is still playing in 2015/16, where he is a key member of the Mount team. He was 1st captain in 2008/09 and 2013/14, both of which were successful seasons, the Old Firm finishing 3rd in both seasons. He was a regular in the 2010/11 Division 2 East championship winning season, playing in 28 of the 31 games played, the Old Firm finishing unbeaten in the League. He made it a season to remember by playing his 200th game to gain his Club cap. To date, he has scored 50 1st XV tries in total and has made 305 1st XV appearances.
Scott Davies was an openside flanker whose potential could be seen as an Under 16 player for the Club. Throughout his career, he was never far from the ball wherever it was on the field, being the first to a breakdown and not far away from a player running with the ball. He was a real workhorse and a true competitor for the Old Firm who was also a ball player, occasionally playing centre when the need arose. He was a member of a successful Youth team before making his 1st XV debut in 2001/02 when he went on to become a regular in the Old Firm XV. He captained the 1st XV for part of the 2004/05 season when an injury forced him to miss the rest of the season. Undeterred, he came back stronger than ever and captained the team for two seasons between 2006 and 2008. The seasons 2008 to 2010 inclusive were three impressive seasons for the Old Firm, the team winning the Worthington Mid District Cup and being crowned Division 2 East champions with an unbeaten record. During the first two seasons, Scott played in virtually all the games, and in 2010/11, when he was capped, played in all 31 games.
Dale Keepin first played for the Club as a member of the mini-rugby section, then progressed to playing junior, youth and 1st XV rugby for the Club. He was a member of the successful Youth team of 1998/99 that won the Rhondda and East Glamorgan Merit Table and went on to be Youth captain in 2000/2001. Throughout his playing career, he showed outstanding potential, playing wing mainly and using his speed, skill and elusiveness to score plenty of tries. Blessed with pace, especially off the mark, and a sidestep which left many a player flat footed, he has shown many a defender a clean pair of heels throughout his career. In total, he has scored 102 tries for the Old Firm during his career and has scored four tries in a match on four occasions. He was capped in 2011/12.
Gavin Powell started playing rugby for Mountain Ash Under 12s as an enthusiastic hooker back in the mid 1990s. He progressed through the age groups and was a member of the successful Youth team of 1998/99 that won the Rhondda and East Glamorgan Merit Table for the third time in four seasons when they defeated Beddau Youth, 20-3, at Penygraig and came runners up in the District Cup. Gavin moved on to senior rugby and was a member of the Mount squad that played Public School Wanderers in a game that celebrated the Club’s 125th anniversary in 2000/01. He was a member of several successful Mount teams during his career, particularly the Mount squad that gained promotion from Division 3 South East in 2004/05, the Worthington Mid District Cup winning team of 2009/10 and the one which won all 22 League games in the Division 2 East championship season of 2010/11, during which he played in all 31 games. He was capped in 2011/12.
Dean O’Brien was a loosehead prop who first played for the Club’s Under 13s in 1989/90. During his time in the Youth and Junior ranks, he was Under 16 captain in 1992/93 and Youth captain in 1995/96 when the team won the Rhondda and East Glamorgan Merit Table, beating Aberdare 7-5 at Penygraig, and finishing runners-up in the District Cup. He was a member of the Mount team which won promotion from Division 3 South East in 2004/05, the Worthington Mid District Cup winning team of 2009/10, and the 2010/11 squad which won all 22 League games in the Division 2 East championship. His determination and attitude is a great example to young players, training hard and playing hard for any Club team, so much so that he was the Athletic Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year, both in 2010/11, before gaining his cap in 2012/13.
Craig Evans is a hooker who has been a constant in the Old Firm XV since he made his debut in 2005/06. After that, he never looked back and has been a regular every season since except for recently when injury and a knee operation laid him low for the first half of the 2015/16 season. He has captained the 1st XV for 5 seasons in total, 4 of these in succession from 2009 to 2013. He was captain when the team won the Worthington Mid District Cup in 2009/10, and won all 22 League games in the Division 2 East championship winning season of 2010/11 when the team accumulated over 100 League points. He has also been a prolific try scorer during his time, scoring 71 1st XV tries in total, which include 14 in 2009/10 and 2010/11, and 10 in 2012/13. He was capped in 2013/14.
Richard Griffiths started his career with the Club as a mini rugby player in the mid 1990s and went on to play in the various age group teams and the Youth XV before making his 1st XV debut as an openside flanker in 2004/05. He went on to play 23 games that season and was awarded “Most Promising Player” at the end of season presentation evening. Most of his rugby for the 1st XV has been in the second row where he has consistently delivered plenty of lineout ball for the Old Firm and contributed around the field. He played in the 2009/10 Worthington Mid District Cup winning team and played 25 out of 31 games in the Old Firm’s perfect League season of 2010/11 when 22 wins from the 22 games played were recorded. He gained his cap in 2013/14 and is still playing, having made 234 1st XV appearances to date.
Kriss Sanders made his debut in 2007/08 in the first game of the season and quickly established himself in the Mount XV, playing in 24 of the 27 games played during the season. After having a spell out of the game through injury in 2008/09, he came back stronger than ever and played all 26 games in 2009/10, which included winning the Worthington Mid District Cup. He went on to play all 31 games of the 2010/11 season which ended in the Old Firm being crowned Division 2 East champions with a perfect League record of 22 wins from 22 games played, and accumulating over 100 League points. He played the first 8 games of the 2011/12 season before missing his first game since 2008/09 which was 65 consecutive League and Cup games, which is a Club record and showed his resilience, consistency and commitment to the Old Firm’s cause Throughout his time with the Club, he has been a hard working, versatile forward who has played at one time or another in the second row and the back row of the team, although most of his rugby has been at blindside flanker or Number 8. He is still playing and has just gained his Club cap, during the first half of the 2015/16 season.
Loosehead prop James Cowdry became the 36th player since 1975/76 to be presented with a Club cap in recognition of making his 200th 1st XV appearance for the Old Firm in the 54-22 Division 1 East Central away win at Llantwit Fardre in April 2016. James started playing for Mountain Ash RFC back in 2001/02 when he became a member of the Club’s Under 13 / 14 team. He moved up the age grades and improved each year, so much so that he was chosen as Youth captain in 2006/07. His first season in senior rugby was 2007/08 and he immediately became a 1st XV regular, making 18 1st XV appearances that season and being awarded the Most Promising Player at the end of it. In 2011/12, he was again recognised, picking up the prestigious Players Player award. He played a big part in the Division 2 East championship winning team of 2010/11, playing in 25 of the 31 games played during the season, and scored his first 1st XV try, away to Brynmawr in March 2011, in the 17-3 win. Shortly after, at the start of April, he scored a vital try in the 28-5 home win over Tredegar, which kept the Old Firm on course for the championship. In 2015/16, he was 1st XV captain and to add to his list of achievements, last season he excelled - scoring a hat-trick against Porth, scoring in his 200th 1st XV game against Llantwit Fardre, and ending the season as top try scorer with 13 – which was a great achievement for a prop forward. In total, at the end of the 2016/17 season, he had scored 46 tries in the 200 1st XV games he had played for the Old Firm.
Matthew started playing rugby with the Club as a mini rugby player in 1989/90 and played for Mountain Ash every season thereafter. In 1995/96, he was the Under 13 Players Player of the Year. His year as Youth captain in 2002/03 was a very successful one with the team winning its division and then getting within a whisker of being Champion of Champions, being eliminated in the semi-final play-off stage away to eventual champions Tondu, 26-24. At the end of the season, he was awarded the Stan Thomas Memorial Shield which was a trophy given to the Youth player most likely to make the grade at senior level.
When he was Youth captain in 2002/03, he made his 1st XV debut at Duffryn Pennar Park against the Welsh Academicals to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the “Accies”. In that match he scored a try and kicked 3 conversions in a 52-26 defeat. His first full season was in 2003/04 when he made 17 appearances, and he was a regular selection up to the end of 2008/09, making 123 appearances in total. Due to competition for the 1st XV outside half spot from 2009/10 on, his appearances were limited but he didn’t quit playing or transfer to another Club, he stuck at it and made his 200th appearance in the 20-13 SWALEC Plate home win over Rhiwbina in 2017/18, converting an injury time try to seal victory.
In his first 6 seasons of 1st XV rugby, he was the Old Firm’s top points scorer. In his first season, 2003/04, he scored 156. He bettered this in 2004/05 with 293, which was a season that ended with promotion from Division 3 South East to Division 2 East. During that season, he also set a new individual points scoring record in a game for a player, when he scored 40 points against Penygraig, scoring a try, and kicking a penalty and 16 conversions, which is still the record today. He was also top points scorer in 2005/06 with 195, 2006/07 with 123, 2007/08 with 154, and 2008/09 with 107. Up to October 2017, he had amassed over 1,200 1st XV points. When not selected for the 1st XV, he also played for the 2nd XV on a regular basis and was top points scorer in 2014/15 with 159 points.
Matthew became the 37th player since 1975/76 to be presented with a Club cap. He showed great character and dedication over 15 seasons to achieve this and his attitude is a great example to any young player.
40 Years of 1st XV Club Caps All in One Photograph
18 March 2016 at the Unveiling of the Club Cap Board
Mountain Ash RFC, "The Old Firm", simply the best!
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