CAERPHILLY firsts' fixture against Tredegar was over before a ball had been kicked as the Virginia Park outfit took to the field in a warm-up only to discover the Gwent side had insufficient players to muster a game.

Attention was therefore switched to the Neal re-established 2ndXV, competing in the Rhondda and East Glamorgan League for the first time in over a year, showing what a good job the coaching staff and committee have been doing in the closed season to bring some fun play back to the club.

With the Tredegar game off, Caerphilly were keen to give two players a run out and the half back partnership of Joe Bray at nine and Lloyd Rowlands at 10 were rushed across the heads of the valleys, Bray starting and Rowlands joining the fray mid way through the first half. A close game at half time saw a narrow 7-12 lead by the interval thanks to two penalties from Bray and a try by Rowlands.

With two of the home side front row in the bin for the start of the second thanks to some could play just prior to the break. Having found their feet and space the Caerphilly side threatened to break loose, but the sin binning of centre Owen Jones mid easy through the half out pay to that. A well-worked try by winger Dafydd Jones early in the half was followed by two more from Rowlands, bagging a hat-trick of tries and conversions against a solitude Treherbert plenty to give the visitors a 10-32 victory.

Attention was also on the Youth team as they travelled the six-hour cosh journey to North Wales in their first round tie if the Welsh Youth Cup.

Another close first half saw the young Caerphilly side hold a slender 10-15 lead. The side cut lose In the second half and eventually routes the home side 15-49 as they eased into the draw of the next round.

Caerphilly firsts entertain Pontypool Utd next weekend, whilst the second team entertain Ynysowen with kick offs at 2.30pm and 2.15pm respectively. The youth team however travel to Caldicot for their second league match of their season, 2.30pm kick off.