Porto Weekend, 09/10-12/10/25

An enjoyable weekend in Porto on Portugal's north-west coast.

The scenary

 

The food and drink

Ebbw Vale 60 Cardiff 20, Super Rygbi Cymru, 27/09/2025

Ebbw Vale recorded a crushing 10-try victory over the visitors from Cardiff, thereby cementing the early top spot in the SRC table.

Following an early Dorian Jones penalty, the Black and Blues scored a converted try and penalty, which jolted the home side into action. A neat backs move move put Ethan Phillips into space to cross close to the posts, converted by Jones. They followed this up with the classic lineout catch'n'drive completed by captain Joe Franchi, again Jones added the extras.

Some good passing from Cardiff led to another try making it 17-15, but more Steelmen forward power led to a penalty try and a Cardiff prop sin-binned. Once again, Jones converted.

The half ended with yet more Vale pack power, but this time the ball was fed out with Morgan Richards crossing in the corner, once again converted by Jones to make it 31-15 at half time.

Ebbw continued the good work at the start of the second half, with replacement hooker crossing after forward pressure. Jones converted. Cardiff hit back with a try of their own, but after this it was all Ebbw.

Morris added another catch'n'drive, Ewan Bowden finished off a fine backs move.

As the game drew to a close, Ebbw were exploiting the space and a tiring Cardiff defence. More great handling saw Canadian international Sion Parry cross out wide, whilst another driving maul gave Morris his hattrick. Evan Lloyd added the extras for both tries to make it 60 points on the scoreboard and 6 points for the table, as Ebbw secured top spot.

Ebbw Vale 36 Aberavon 17, Super Rygbi Cymru, 13/09/25

The Steelmen opened their SRC campaign by successfully defending the Challenger Shield against the Wizards from Aberavon, and have now gone unbeaten at home in regular season for over a year.

On a sunny September afternoon interspersed with showers, Ebbw took a 22-10 lead at half time thanks to tries from Morgan Richards, Ewan Bowden (both converted by Evan Lloyd) and Dafydd Thomas. The teams had also exchanged penalties after Aberavon had levelled at 7-7.

The home side started the second half well and secured the first bonus point through a try from Curtis Gregory. Despite a raft of changes, Ebbw's pack power told, and a penalty try was awarded after 'Avon collapsed a rolling maul near their own line. Both tries were converted.

Despite a late Wizards score, the 19-point margin was enough to secure the 6 points for Ebbw Vale.

Hotel Pioneer Beach, TUI Blue, Paphos, Cyprus, August 2025

 Cyprus in summer. Hot, but great.

Glamorgan v Kent, Day 1, County Championship Division 2, Cardiff, 18/07/2025

Glamorgan enjoyed the better of the opening day in the latest Championship match at Sophia Gardens, closing on 125/4 in reply to Kent's below par 155.

Despite being inserted, the visitors started well enough and at one point were 122/2 before a spectacular afternoon collapse handed all the initiative to the Welsh county. James Harris and Timm van der Gugten took three scalps each in an excellent first innings display from Glamorgan.

Match scorecard here.

First day's report here

Manchester weekend, July 2025

Some images from our Manchester weekend in July 2025.

Lancashire CCC, Old Trafford and Hilton Garden Inn Hotel

Manchester United FC, museum and stadium

Hotel Football

Hard Rock Cafe, Manchester