Wales Rugby League’s first ever Summer Smash was a big success as 1,074 passed through the gates at Cardiff Arms Park to watch four exciting matches of rugby league.
Actually that total could be increased to 12 as two junior encounters, at U8 and U9 levels, took place at half-time of each open-age match.
Two JES Group Rugby League Conference matches were on show, as were the Wales Students and Masters sides.
Bridgend Blue Bulls eased to a 48-14 win over Cynon Valley Cavaliers in the opening game of the day, to go top of the JES Group Rugby League Conference.
They raced into a 32-0 lead on 28 minutes, thanks to tries from Karlin Claridge, Jordan Lewis, Owen Thomas, Brandon-Lee Pearce and two from Lewis Ingram, with four goals from Corey Harris.
Cynon Valley Cavaliers struck back on the dot of half-time with Bradley Toy going over. Ethan Williams converted, before adding the first try of the second half to put the score back to 32-10.
In a contrast to the first half, the rest of the game was nip and tuck. A Daniel Thomas-Dineen try on 49 minutes, converted by Harris, restored a four-try cushion for Bridgend, Harvey Williams hit back again for Cavaliers with Ethan Williams converting, but two further tries for Bridgend, through Chadd George and Claridge, the latter converted by Harris, cemented the win.
In game two, Wales Students came back from 14-10 down at half-time to Rhondda Outlaws to win 26-14. It was an important second half shut out for the Students as they used this match to prepare for the Four Nations in England at the end of the month.
The Outlaws scored three tries in their strong first half, with Calum Jones giving them the lead in the 20th minute. Other tries followed from Rhodri Jones and Macauley Harris, with Lloyd Miller converting the second score.
Mason Phillips scored the first try of each half for Wales Students. Finlay Northop, Leo Jones and George Groves also went over. Thomas Moore, Alex Naylor and Mason Apsee kicked a goal each.
For match three, it was back to the JES Rugby League Conference, as Aberavon Fighting Irish completed the double over South Wales Jets beating them 34-22, after already winning 34-24 in Port Talbot earlier this season.
It was an even match for the first half hour. David Hooper gave Jets the lead on six minutes with Laurence Pritchard converting. Ten minutes later, Aberavon were level thanks to a Cody Rees try improved by Ioan Evans.
On 19 minutes, Jets went into a 10-6 lead through a Ieuan Sims try, but Aberavon took control after that as three tries without reply gave them a 28-10 interval lead.
Jay Baker went over for the first two with Isaac Morgan over two minutes before the break. Evans kicked one goal with Sean Waldeck the next two.
They opened the second half well with Lewis Francis getting their next try, scored in the 50th minute and Iestyn Williams-Jones converting.
It will be only slight consolation that Jets rendered Aberavon scoreless in the final half an hour, scoring twice when they had an extra man, through Sims and Pritchard, the latter converting twice.
A head injury to Owen Evans caused the game to stop for over ten minutes late in the encounter and everyone at WRL wishes him the best in his recovery.
The final game was a Masters (over 35s) international between Wales and Ireland which has modified rules depending on the age of the player.
Every Masters game officially ends 0-0 but try scorers are recorded, no goal kicks are taken. David Provis scored four tries for Wales, Idris Evans got a hat-trick, with Rob Martin and Andrew Palfrey each going over once. Martin Fox, John Gaston, Larry Buckley and Andrew Hassard replied with tries for Ireland.
Wales Rugby League would like to thank all players, fans and officials for attending today and making this event a magnificent display of Welsh Rugby League.
