The CC Evans Cup final against Cwmllynfell has been a long time coming after being called off by the galactico’s up the road back in May as they couldn’t field a front row. With the Amman losing the other cup final against Newcastle Emlyn at the time it might have been a blessing in disguise as player’s confidence and morale might have taken a knock. Let’s be honest, the players, or supporters, were not used to losing.

A few months on, and a player taken back from them in Stan, it’s good to go again and the excitement levels are up. Over the years, the Amman United has played in games which might only be in the 1st to the 4th round of various cups such as the old Schweppes or Swalec Cup’s but they have been our cup finals.

Before the ‘Regions’ took over, the Amman United (since 1975) played Llanelli, Pontypool, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea. Massive days for the club as a whole playing these Welsh rugby giants. I wasn’t born for the first two, but remember the rest well!

On Saturday January 25 1975, the Amman welcomed a Llanelli side to Parc yr Aman for the third round of the ‘WRU Cup Competition’. On the same day, Llanelli sent another team to play Newport RFC in a league match such was the strength of their squad at the time. However, the starts turned up for the Amman and their team included Clive Griffiths, Ray Gravelle, J.J Williams, Phil Bennett, Delme Thomas and Gareth Jenkins and were coached by the legendary Carwyn James, formerly of the Amman. This game was played exactly a week after Trevor Evans had made his Wales debut against France in Paris which incidentally was also the great Ray Gravelle’s first Welsh cap. The Amman gate receipts for the day were recorded as £604.80, which bearing in mind the entry fee was only 20p, gives a crowd of 3024, and if it was anything like today when half avoid paying it could have been a lot more!

Final Score – Amman United 0 Llanelli 51

The Amman team on the day was:

15 – Colin Davies
14 – Ken Davies
13 – John Thomas
12 – Rowland John
11 – Baden Jones
10 – Peter Griffiths
9 – Adrian Jones
8 – Gordon Thomas
7 – John Rees
6 – Eric Jones
5 – Graham George
4 – Mike Mckay
3 – Wyn Jones
2 – Martin Rogerson
1 – Jeff Jones

The following year on Saturday 10th January 1976, the Amman travelled to Pontypool Park who at the time had, probably the most famous front row ever of Faulkner, Windsor and Price in its starting XV. The Amman gave a good account of themselves with Mike Mckay now playing in the centre after playing second row against Llanelli the year before. Pontypool with five internationals in the pack alone and captained by then Welsh player of the year Terry Cobner, eventually won the game by 37 points to 6. Rowland John, full back on the day, will always remind you that the Amman were 6 points to nil up though!

Final Score – Pontypool 37 Amman United 6

Amman XV

15 – R.John
14 – H.Davies
13 – M Mckay
12 – J Thomas
11 – K Davies
10 – P Griffiths
9 – A Jones
8 – J Thomas
7 – G Thomas
6 – E Jones
5 – G George
4 – S Samuel
3 – W Jones
2 – M Rogerson
1 – J Jones

On Saturday 17th December 1988, it was Cardiff’s turn in the Schweppes Cup Fourth Round. The Cardiff side on the day included 10 internationals; amongst them were Mike Rayer, Mark Ring, Malcolm Dacey, Alan Phillips, Dai Young and Richie Collins. The Amman had a young side which included a youthful Darrel Campbell, Graham Bundock and Adrian Phillips in the front row and the moustachioed Mike Mole at 8 and Skim on the bench.

Final Score – Cardiff 54 Amman United 0

Amman XV

15 – Alan Davies
14 – Kevin Lewis
13 – Stephen Phillips
12 – Liam Clancey
11 – David Evans
10 – Nick Griffiths
9 – Neil Bundock
8 – Mike Evans
7 – Paul Rees
6 Clive Williams
5 – Roy Morgan
4 – Phil Rees
3 – Graham Bundock
2 – Darrel Campbell
1 – Adrian Phillips

Again in the Schweppes Cup Fourth Round, the Amman drew Newport at home on Saturday 15th December 1990. I remember being devastated that the game was called off due to a frozen pitch, but the game went ahead on the following Saturday, the 22nd December. In the match report in the Sunday Mirror the following day, it says “Newport booked their place in the next round, but it took all their skill and stamina to win 22-0 against the stubborn lads from Amman United. United defended heroically with Alan Davies and Clive Williams outstanding”. The match was referred by Derek Bevan who got slated by the large crowd for not awarding the Amman a blatant penalty try. Please note, in the same season, the Amman WON THE CC EVANS CUP!

Final Score – Amman United 0 Pontypool 22

Amman XV

15 – Alan Davies
14 – Anthony Davies
13 – Stephen Phillips
12 – Stephen Liles
11 – Liam Clancey
10 – Ceri Morgan
9 – Justin Power
8 – Andrew Price
7 – Paul Rees
6 – Duncan Calow
5 – Aled Bartlett
4 – Roy Morgan
3 – Graham Bundock
2 – Darrel Campbell
1 – Adrian Phillips

*During the following season the Amman drew Newport again and in December 1991 under the captaincy of Darrel Campbell narrowly lost at home by 8 points to 6 in a game which maybe they should and could have won. It didn’t really matter however as in the same season the team went unbeaten and won 18 games out of 18 in the league to finish champions and they also won the West Wales Championship Bowl.*

After playing Llanelli, Pontypool, Cardiff and Newport it was only Swansea left for a full house of Welsh club giants. In 1998/99, the season when Swansea and Cardiff attempted to join the English league structure and really annoyed the WRU, both clubs lost their seeding status for the Swalec Cup and as a result, the Amman drew Swansea at home in what was only the second round. Again, the game was scheduled for Saturday 24th October 1998 but due to monsoon conditions, the match was postponed and played the following day on the Sunday. With less than a minute gone, the Amman were 7-0 up after a Steve Liles try. Nick Griffith’s attempted kick off didn’t travel the 10m so there was a scrum on the half way line, the ball came out too quickly for Rhodri Jones, Richard Dunn pounced, passed to Wayne Matthews who in turn passed to Liles who galloped 40 metres with a look of terror on his face with Charvis chasing him, to score under the posts. How do I know this? I watched it on the TV. I missed it along with Paul ‘Dolly’ Paddock and caused most of the crowd to miss it because the BBQ we were cooking where ‘Caffi Cynnes’ is now had smoked out half of the stand! Anyway there was not much to see after that. Highlight of the day for me was John ‘Tidy’ Lewis who asked the Wales outside half of the time who was not playing on the day for his entry fee. “Do you know who I am, I’m Arwel Thomas”. John’s reply, “I don’t give a fu*k if you’re the Pope, three pound”. The Amman starting XV to follow, a certain S.Williams was only on the bench.

The Swansea side coached by John Plumtree included Tony Clememt, Lee Davies, Paul Arnold, James Griffiths, Paul Moriarty, Colin Charvis, with Garin Jenkins, Ben Evans and Tyrone Maulin on the bench. Not a bad side!

Final Score Amman United 7 Swansea 100

15 – Alan Davies
14 – Steve James
13 – Wayne Matthews
12 – Steve Liles
11 – Owain Lewis
10 – Nick Griffiths
9 – Richard Dunn
8 – Karl Worsfold
7 – Steve Mackey
6 – Kevin Morris
5 – Steven Morris
4 – Shaun Davies
3 – Jason Williams
2 – Gareth Morgan
1 – Stuart Clarke

We might not potential ‘giant-killing’ see days like these again because of the regional structure but a win against the superstars up the road would be a good substitute!

Good Luck Boys/Pob Lwc Bois.

AMDANI!!