Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy

The Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy (also known as the Glamorgan County High Motive 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]

Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy
Aberavon Harlequins, winners in 1982, with the trophy
Founded1956
RegionGlamorgan, Wales
Current championsNantyffyllon RFC
Most successful club(s)Glynneath RFC

History

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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 Chemical Corporation since season 2019/20.

Silver Ball Trophy finals

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Season Winners Losing Finalists Score Venue
1956–57 Taibach RFC Skewen RFC 9–3 The Gnoll, Neath
1957–58 Welsh Academicals RFC Seven Sisters RFC 8–6 Talbot Athletic Ground Aberavon
1958–59 Maesteg Celtic RFC Bargoed RFC 6–3 The Gnoll, Neath
1959–60 Seven Sisters RFC Maesteg Celtic RFC 6-5 The Gnoll, Neath
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 6-5 The Gnoll, Neath
1963–64 Llantwit Major RFC Taibach RFC 3–0 Brewery Field, Bridgend
1964–65 Llantwit Major RFC Kenfig Hill RFC 3-0 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 Penygraig RFC 10-6 Senghenydd 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 Aberavon
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 RFC 22–14 Old Parish Maesteg
1982–83 Swansea Athletic RFC Old Illitydians RFC 17-3 Brewery Field, Bridgend
1983–84 Cilfynydd RFC Seven Sisters RFC 12–0 Brewery Field, Bridgend
1984–85 Cilfynydd RFC Nantyffyllon RFC 14-7 Brewery Field, Bridgend
1985–86 St. Peters RFC Rumney RFC 10–9 Cardiff Arms Park Cardiff
1986–87 Tondu RFC Vardre RFC 16-4 Brewery Field, Bridgend
1987–88 Neath Athletic RFC Glamorgan Wanderers A RFC 13-12 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 Abercynon RFC 16-4 Brewery Field, Bridgend
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 12-10 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 34-22 Sardis Road, Pontypridd
1998–99 Ynysybwl RFC Nantymoel RFC 22-13 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
2015–16 Bedlinog RFC Porth Harlequins RFC 32–15 Talbot Athletic Ground Aberavon
2016–17 Rhydyfelin RFC TonduRFC 17-10 Talbot Athletic Ground Aberavon
2017–18 Glamorgan Wanderers RFC Maesteg Harlequins RFC 37–32 Brewery Field Bridgend
2018–19 Nantyffyllon RFC Ystalyfera RFC 18–12 Brewery Field Bridgend
2019–20 COVID-19 COVID-19
2020–21 COVID-19 COVID-19
2021–22 COVID-19 COVID-19
2022-23 Morriston RFC Pontarddulais RFC 16–15 Tata RFC Port Talbot
2023-24 Llanharan RFC Abercrave RFC 54-3 Brewery Field Bridgend

Competition multiple winners

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  • 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
Glamorgan Wanderers RFC
Llantrisant RFC
Llantwit Major RFC
Maesteg Harlequins RFC
Penallta RFC
Pyle RFC
Senghenydd RFC
UWIC RFC
Ynysybwl RFC

References

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  1. ^ a b c Chalmers, Ron (20 January 2011). "Ravens top Silver Ball table". Glamorgan Gazette. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  2. ^ Davies (1975) p.154
  3. ^ Davies (1975) p.157
  4. ^ Owen, Arwyn, ed. (1972). Welsh Brewers Ltd Rugby Annual for Wales 1971–72. Cardiff: Welsh Brewers Ltd. p. 58.
  5. ^ "Penalta win Silver Ball final". WRU.co.uk. 22 January 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2011.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Welsh Rugby Union (11 May 2008). "Tonmawr retain Glamorgan County Silver Ball". WRU.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  7. ^ Evans, Howard (29 May 2010). "Worthington's Silver Ball Final – Tonmawr 26 Tondu 15". WRU.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  8. ^ "Maesteg Quins win Silver Ball". Western Mail. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  9. ^ "O'Reilly shines in Silver Ball final as Glynneath fightback to win trophy". Western Mail. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.

Bibliography

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  • Davies, D.E. (1975). Cardiff Rugby Club, History and Statistics 1876–1975. Risca: The Starling Press. ISBN 0-9504421-0-0.