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On Saturday face arguably the biggest league game in recent memory as we welcome fellow Mid District club, Nelson RFC to Hawthorn Rec.

Village Background/History 
Nelson sits within Caerphilly county borough council with a population similar to our own of just over 4,500. Originally called Ffos-y-Gerddinen, Nelson lies at the southern extremity of the Taff Bargoed Valley to the south of the hamlet of Llancaiach. It existed on a drovers trail from the South Wales coast towards Merthyr Tydfil and onwards to Brecon and Mid Wales, where an enterprising man built a coaching inn that he called Nelson, possibly after Admiral Lord Nelson and his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. Had it not been for the development of the South Wales coalfield, Nelson would have remained just a coaching inn surrounded by fields. When the Llancaiach Colliery was developed from 1811, it created a need for new housing for the workers and heavy transport for the coal, which spilled onto the flat lands below the colliery.

‘The Unicorns’ as they are known were founded back in 1934, and the club play under the motto ‘Profi Yn Iawn’ (Prove your worth). Since the inception of regional rugby the club have been under the banner of the Gwent Dragons.

People/Players
The most notable name to have come through the Village must be the legendary Sir Tasker Watkins VC GBE PC, who sadly passed away in 2007. Sir Tasker was born in Nelson in 1918 and was a recipient of the Victoria Cross. He went on to become a successively a High Court judge, Lord Justice of Appeal and Deputy Lord Chief Justice of England. He later became President of the Welsh Rugby Union from 1993 to 2004.

In more recent times Nelson has produced players for the Gwent Dragons and Wales, most notably second row/back row Andrew Coombs who has returned this season to be part of the coaching set up.

Our rivalry has come and gone over the years with both clubs passing on the way up and down through the divisions. We have met in recent years, both in cup competitions and in the league, last season being the most recent. Three successive promotions between 2010-13 seen the Unicorns climb the league ladder back to division 1 and March 2014 was the last time they were successful against Rhydyfelin. The first game of the 2013-14 season went to The Village by 21-20 but a 28-20 win for Nelson at The Parc made it one win a piece. Last season’s fixtures were two titanic battles, both finishing with Rhydyfelin victories by just one score, at Hawthorn Rec by 20-17 and by 20-19 at The Parc. Another tightly contested battle is expected on Saturday afternoon.

This Season
Nelson have enjoyed a superb season to date having only lost one league game, in the reverse fixture against us back in October. They reached the quarter final of the Plate competition where they were narrowly beaten by fellow district and div 1 east side Penallta, and face the same opponents in the district cup quarters in a couple of weeks time. The season began with the Unicorns beating newly promoted Caerleon before wins at home to Risca and away at Abertillery. The visit of struggling Blaenavon gave Nelson the chance to hit their first 50 of the season (50-14) with a 2nd coming just one game later as they put struggling Nantyglo to the sword 5-57. That form set up the clash with us earlier this season.

That return fixture up at The Parc was a hard fought encounter ending in a narrow win for Rhydyfelin, the only league defeat of the season for the Unicorns so far. A solid first half built a 14-3 lead going in at half time, however it was narrowed to just one score not long after the break. Resolute defending by The Village, and a superbly taken breakaway try finished off by Fforest Quirke, re-established a two score lead going in to the final quarter. The final 20 minutes of the game was played out in thecenter of the field, with The Village happy to walk away with a vital 10-19 win in the race for the title. That game was played out in terrible conditions on the day, which is similar to what is expected this afternoon.

Since that defeat Nelson have got back on the horse and rarely struggled to see off opposition, including an impressive win away at fellow title challengers Penallta just before Christmas (17-19). Only on a couple of occasions have their opponents come close to inflicting a 2nd league defeat, Caerleon came close in a 20-31 result, while Risca proved a much tougher opposition on the road with the Unicorns claiming a 15-23 victory. Last time out Nelson recorded a 5-24 victory away at Blaenavon.

Nelson currently sit in 2nd position in Division 1 East having played 15 games to date with a record of W14 L1 scored 494 (67 tries) conceded 160 (19 tries) with 65 Points.

No doubt the game will be a great advert for Mid District rugby and the camaraderie will continue in the clubhouse after the final whistle.