The South Wales Men’s League regular season was completed yesterday with the final positions now confirmed.
South Wales Jets completed their 100 percent record in the regular season with a crushing 96-1 win over South Wales Saints. It was the highest margin of win by any team in the 20-year history of the WRL Men’s League, beating a 106-16 scoreline by Newport Titans over Swansea Valley Miners back in 2005. The Jets were 80-0 up before Chris Harris thought he’d kick a drop-goal to ensure Saints, where most players are in their first season playing rugby league, weren’t scoreless against the competition favourites who fielded a few former professionals. It was former All Golds and South Wales Scorpions’ player Ross Price who gave Jets an early lead. That was converted by another former pro in Paul Emanuelli, the first of 14 successful conversions he would land that afternoon. Liam Watton added the next two tries and then it was pretty much non stop Jets. Alex Langworthy scored a hat-trick, which included the final two tries, whilst Sam Pridgeon also went over for three. Emanuelli scored two and there were also scores for Jamie Marsh, Lewys Willacott, Matthew Jacobs, Ben Jones, Shane Kerby and Dean Higgs.
Torfaen Tigers’ outside chance of qualifying for the play-offs were quashed at the hands of Aberavon Fighting Irish as they lost 40-36 at home. Two tries from Will McCarthy and one each from Jack Gray, Aaron Cookson, Jack Dacey, Jake Price, Dafydd Edwards and Nanthawat Naonan saw them through. Price and McCarthy each kicked two goals. Torfaen replied with two tries from Jermarie Chatham, two from Sam Taylor and one each from Dai Thomas, Max Roberts and Ian Manley. Matthew Cummins kicked four successful conversions.
Bridgend Blue Bulls claimed fourth place in what was billed as a winner takes all match against Cynon Valley Cavaliers but the match was abandoned just before half-time due to a serious injury to a Cavaliers player and we all look forward to seeing him make a full recovery. The score at the time was 10-0 to Bridgend and normally in a situation like this, the game would be replayed, but following discussions in the Cavaliers’ side, they agreed to award the game to Bridgend. Liam Jones and Dylan Thomas were the try scorers with Corey Harris converting the second try.
Next Saturday’s semi-final fixtures:
South Wales Jets v Bridgend Blue Bulls
Aberavon Fighting Irish v Rhondda Outlaws
2023 WRL Men’s League South Table
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| South Wales Jets | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 456 | 95 | 361 | 14 |
| Aberavon Fighting Irish | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 244 | 154 | 90 | 10 |
| Rhondda Outlaws | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 210 | 182 | 28 | 10 |
| Bridgend Blue Bulls | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 258 | 142 | 116 | 8 |
| Torfaen Tigers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 228 | 238 | -10 | 6 |
| Cynon Valley Cavaliers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 178 | 200 | -22 | 6 |
| South Wales Saints | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 71 | 382 | -311 | 2 |
| Cardiff Blue Dragons | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 40 | 292 | -252 | 0 |