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The Welsh Rugby Union’s cup competitions were downgraded yesterday after 20 matches did not take place this weekend.
When cup ties do not continue on the day the offending team is eliminated from the competition, with the opposition progressing to the next round through a forfeit. Unfortunately, 17 clubs were unable to play their cup matches, and many of them are unable to muster the number of players required to field a team.
The problem extended to the WRU Championship Cup where Tondu scored a clear victory over Dunvant who forfeited. There were three withdrawals in the WRU Division 1 Cup, with Newport HSOB, Swansea Uplands and Dinbych unable to complete their matches.
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In the WRU Division 2 Cup, Laugharne, Betws, Pyle, Nantgaredig and Loughor were the culprits, while Machynlleth and Amman United bowed out of the WRU Division 3 Cup. There were four in the WRU Division 4 Cup where Alltwen, Brackla, Cardiff Saracens and Crynant suffered withdrawals while Hartridge, Cwmgwrach, Bangor, Bethesda Athletic and Sully Sports were unable to field teams in the WRU Division 5 Cup.
In some cases, clubs like Cwmtwrch have been able to arrange a friendly match after their cup opponent has withdrawn from the match. The fact that community clubs in Wales are unable to play their matches is not new, but the WRU will be concerned that such a high number of cup matches have not been completed and one could argue that this devalues the tournament.
The WRU will hope this does not happen again in the third round of their cup competitions.
Meetings that did not take place
WRU Championship Cup
Mown without Dunvant
WRU Division 1 Cup
Abertillery BG with Newport HSOB
Builth Wells with the Swansea Highlands
Llangefni with Dynbich
WRU Division 2 Cup
Abercrave without Laugharne
Brynamman without Betws
Carmarthen Athletic without Pyle
City of Lampeter without Nantgaredig
Porthcawl without Loughor
WRU Division 3 Cup
Caernarfon Athletic with Machynlleth
Tycroes without Amman United
WRU Division 4 Cup
Dreigiau Emlyn with Alltwen
Ferndale with Brackla
Pontyclun with Cardiff Saracens
Seven Sisters with Crynant
WRU Division 5 Cup
Cardiff Met Athletic without Hartridge
Llangefni Athletic with Bangor
Cwmtwrch with ov Cwmgwrach
Mold Athletic with Bethesda Athletic
Rumney Athletic with Sully Sports
