Motor Of The Month - Volkswagen ID Range
Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist
Volkswagen Charges Ahead With Expanding ID. Range’
Volkswagen is charging ahead with its electric offensive and with the popularity of established vehicles at an all-time high and more exciting models on the way, there’s never been a better time for motorists to make the switch from traditional petrol or diesel variants.
In 2022, the company increased global sales of all-electric vehicles by 23.6 per cent year on year to around 330,000 units. Volkswagen is now further accelerating the transition to e-mobility as it moves towards producing electric vehicles only in Europe from 2033. Indeed by the end of this current decade, up to eight out of 10 cars sold on the Continent will be battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
In the UK, where Volkswagen has been the best-selling new car brand for the past two years, BEV sales increased by over 40 per cent in 2022 with the award-winning ID.3 now ranked amongst the top 10 list of best-sellers.
The diversity and strength of the Volkswagen electric offering was undoubtedly a key factor in the overall sales performance last year and, as more drivers consider the benefits of BEV ownership, the impending arrival of exciting, new models seems certain to cement the brand’s position.
Over the past 12 months, Sinclair Volkswagen’s retailers in Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend, Swansea, Port Talbot and Neyland have seen an upturn in enquiries for the established ID.3 family hatchback and ID.4 and ID.5 SUV duo – the trio recently named 2023 Which? Best Buys within their respective sectors.
Accounting for more than half of its global sales last year, the ID.4 is the Volkswagen Group’s top electric world car and it’s easy to see why. With its supreme practicality and performance, this is a fantastic automotive design concept that combines the space, comfort and presence of an urban SUV with the turning circle of a small compact car together with the exemplary ease for everyday travel afforded by a single battery charge offering a combined range of up to 328 miles.
For those seeking an extra helping of style, the ID.5 impresses with a futuristic form that blends the strengths of an SUV with the aerodynamic silhouette of a coupé to perfection. And don’t be fooled by its distinctive, sloping roofline – it certainly doesn’t compromise space as the ID.5 still offers plenty of headroom in the rear seats to enable five people to travel in comfort and provides a very accommodating large luggage compartment too.
Two and a half years after the launch of the first generation ID.3, the all-electric hatchback is being treated to a comprehensive upgrade this year that will heighten its appeal. The compact and compelling model arrives this autumn with a sharpened exterior and refined interior design incorporating contemporary aesthetics and sustainable materials.
Intelligently connected as standard, the new ID.3 features the latest software generation to improve system performance and enable over-the-air updates as well as the latest-generation convenience and assist systems to take the strain out of daily driving.
The ID.3 is the first of 10 new electric models to be launched by Volkswagen by 2026.
Also expected in Sinclair Volkswagen showrooms before the end of this year is the flagship of the ID. family. The ID.7 made its world premiere in April and will be equipped with the most powerful and highest-torque electric drive motor in the ID. model line-up so far. Depending on the battery size, its long-distance capability will appeal to frequent drivers and fleet customers with WLTP ranges of up to 435 miles and charging capacities of up to 200 kW forecast.
For further information on the ever-growing ID. range, please contact your nearest Sinclair Volkswagen retailer or visit www.sinclairvolkswagen.co.uk
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Travis Perkins Team Of The Month
Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist
CONGRATULATIONS! New Tredegar Under 8’s (Mini Newts)
Sport: Rugby
Playing ground: Grove Park, New Tredegar
Team founded: 2020
The team has had a very successful season. Due to the WRU policy on a non-results game, no scores are kept at this age though.
Their success is built on numbers and participation levels. They started with just 6 regular players and are now up to 16-18 with players from New Tredegar, Phillipstown and Aberbargoed
They have done several fundraising activities – climbing Pen-y-Fan in October, and they’ve just completed their first 2k park run.
They are due to travel to Butlins Minehead for the end of season tour where they’ll compete in the tigers challenge against 40 teams from all over the UK.
Calling all sports teams in Wales!
It’s time to celebrate team success and showcase your story with the Travis Perkins Team of the Month! Do you have a story to tell? Too many trophies to count? A big summer of competition ahead? We want to hear about it!
So, if you’re a sports team in Wales, this is your chance to shine! Register your interest by telling us why your team should be our ‘Team Of The Month’ Email Media@Sportin.Wales
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Rhos Player Lee’s Transplant Journey
Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist
Rhos on Sea LTC player Lee McLaughlin has undergone an amazing journey after receiving the news he needed a kidney transplant. He became Mens’ singles champion at the British Transplant Games and travelled to the World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia, to represent GB and Northern Ireland, achieving the target of bringing back a medal in memory of his late brother.
Lee became hooked on tennis after watching a 17-year-old Boris Becker win Wimbledon. Ever since then the sport has been a huge part of his life. Playing regularly, as well as keeping him fit, he enjoys the social side of tennis, and the opportunities to travel it brings. Summing up what tennis means to him said: “Happiness. Playing tennis, watching tennis, talking or even thinking about tennis is enough to lift my mood and makes me happy.”
Lee had a relatively short three-month wait for a suitable donor and kept playing right up until the transplant, although he said a game of tennis would wipe him out for a day-or-two.
After the transplant he was raring to get playing again. He said: “I couldn’t wait to get back on court. Unfortunately, whilst the kidney was working fine, I was left with nerve damage in my abdomen from the surgery that severely restricted my mobility for six months. Once that pain became manageable, I was back at the club playing in 15-minute bursts to get back into the swing.”
As he continued his return, with an enforced break because of Covid-19, his brother – who’d also undergone a kidney transplant – told him about the British Transplant Games, and it changed his life.
He went to the British Transplant Games in Leeds, where he was crowned Mens’ champion in the singles tennis. Lee said: “I was proud to win gold but the overall feeling from attending the games was one of hope. I saw so many people competing at sporting events despite their challenging personal circumstances. It was a very emotional and rewarding experience that left a hugely positive impression on me.”
Reflecting on his journey, he said: “I hope it inspires more people to play tennis, regardless of any physical constraints they may have. Most of all I hope the awareness we all raise will get more people around the world off the transplant list faster.
He added: “I’m proud to be representing our country and thankful to my family, friends and all the NHS staff who have supported me through this journey. Most of all I am thankful to the donor and their family without which I may not be around today. Representing them at the games is the highest of honours!”
Lee is keen to give back and has embarked on fundraising so that fellow transplant athletes can go to the World Transplant Games, fundraising that has included climbing Snowdon. He has a Just Giving page http://bit.ly/3U8Dp4T if you would like to contribute to the fundraising.
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Award Winners Bangor’s Support For Refugees
Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist
Bangor Tennis Club sits in a beautiful spot in North Wales, close to the famous Menai Straits which separates Anglesey from the Welsh mainland.
The club prides itself in offering “friendship, fitness and fun through tennis” to anyone who wants to play the sport. And it has shown that this strapline is not just an empty claim, doing its part to make Ukrainian refugees feel welcome.
In 2022, the club partnered with a local organisation called Pobl i Bobl /Cefnogi Ffoaduriaid. Translated Pobl i Bobl means People to People – and the organisation supports refugees in and around Bangor.
The club hosted a fantastic Tennis Fun Charity Day with Danny Sapsford and James Auckland last May. The event raised more than £2000. Half of that amount went towards the cost of building a new environmentally friendly clubhouse. The other half was used to provide free coaching sessions to Ukranian refugees. 15 refugees took part and benefited from tennis lessons at the club.
The initiative was recognised at the Tennis Wales Awards where Bangor Tennis Club won the ‘Club of the Year’ Award in a glittering ceremony at the iconic Cardiff Arms Park.
Siân Gwenllian MS for Arfon also visited the club to hear about the scheme, and the redevelopment of Bangor’s facilities.
Speaking about the scheme Susan Beesley said: “Playing tennis at Bangor Tennis Club has allowed our Ukranian friends to integrate better into the community.
“There’s not even necessarily a need to speak the same language as people are able to communicate through sport, enabling them to feel more connected and experience a greater degree of normality here in Bangor.
“Our coaches at Martyn Lewis Tennis have worked with them at our Club over a number of months and we hope to be able to offer some more opportunities in the future.”
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Transforming Public Park Tennis Courts Across Wales
Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist
Simon Johnson, Chief Executive at Tennis Wales talks public park tennis courts, the importance of accessible facilities and opening tennis up across Wales.
Some of the world’s most successful and recognisable tennis stars started playing tennis in a public park. Serena Williams, winner of 23 grand slam singles titles, is a prime example, playing her first tennis on the public park courts in Compton, California with her dad Richard, and sister Venus. In Britain, our Billie Jean King Cup Captain and former British number 1, Anne Keothavong MBE made her start in tennis on the park tennis courts in Hackney, as did many others.
Wales is blessed with over 100 public parks with tennis courts, with an estimated 350 courts from Swansea to Wrexham, and Pembrokeshire to Newport. Parks provide a great, low cost and affordable way to play tennis, and are key to ‘opening up’ tennis for all. They’re a vital community facility and available locally for people to enjoy.
The stats show the importance of parks in the numbers of people playing tennis. Figures from 2022 showed tennis participation in Wales at unprecedented levels. 171,000 adults picked up a racket at least once, and over 16,000 children played tennis weekly. 40% of this participation took place on public tennis courts, higher than any part of Great Britain.
Our goal, working with our partners, is to ensure Wales has a thriving network of accessible public tennis courts, right across the country. Park tennis venues that are particularly important for lower socio-economic groups and women, as the most popular place for women to play tennis after they have left education. We want facilities that people can enjoy safely, can access and book online, and that are sustainable for decades to come. Parks should be places where all the family can go and play locally, and who knows, in some cases go on to compete at the top of the game.
The UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation are investing significantly into park tennis facilities across Britain, as part of a project delivered by the LTA. Tennis Wales is working with the LTA, the national governing body for tennis in Britain, as well as with Sport Wales and Welsh local authorities, to ensure that park tennis courts across Wales provide opportunities for people to get on court and get active. Work is ongoing, with parks due to be relaunched to the public in the coming months.
The investment will ensure that quality facilities are available for local communities, transforming, safeguarding, and improving public park tennis courts for the next generation to enjoy. Parks will be refurbished and offer online court booking, alongside free and affordable coaching, and community programmes to welcome more people than ever in a safe, inclusive, accessible, and welcoming environment. Some parks will even see LED lighting installed to welcome people all year round and create fantastic facilities in their public parks.
Case Study: Dominic Smith at Heath Park
Dominic Smith moved to Cardiff to study at university nine years ago. During that time, he played competitively in the BUCS competition and worked part-time as a tennis coach, as well as securing an Undergraduate and Master’s Degree in Sport Management. He was given the opportunity to start a coaching programme at the Heath Park tennis courts, with the support of Tennis Wales and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Dominic is in no doubt that park tennis is key to helping ‘open up’ tennis in Wales. He said: “I strongly believe that park tennis provides the opportunity for a complete change of mindset with tennis as a sport. I feel this every day at Heath Park.”
Tennis coaching is an important aspect of the activity at Heath Park. There are sessions for children aged 4-18 and adults, and school holiday camps. Added to that there are junior match play events, adult competition and social events, and volunteering and coach development.
Inclusivity is important for Dominic as well. He said: “We offer sessions for Cardiff Baseliners who are Wales first LGBTQ+ tennis club, and disability tennis sessions through Sense Cardiff. Coaching runs all year round six days a week.”
Dominic also ensures there are opportunities for people to try tennis. He said: “I run 2-3 open days a year. Open days include working with local schools to help increase participation. I offer the schools free taster sessions in return for promotion of the open day and the coaching offer at Heath Park. Children and adults are invited to join six-week taster sessions on the back of attending the open days at a subsidised price.”
Did you know you can book tennis courts across Wales online?
An increasing number of public parks, and tennis clubs now offer you the opportunity to find and book a tennis court online. Visit https://www.lta.org.uk/play/book-a-tennis-court/ enter your location and find local courts that you can book at the click of a button. More and more sites are coming online this summer, so keep an eye out for new and improved facilities near you.
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4 Things To Look Forward To At Glamorgan Cricket This Season
Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist
With the 2023 cricket season underway for Glamorgan Cricket, here are a fab four to look out for at Sophia Gardens over the coming months including an England International fixture, an array of overseas stars and the club’s first-ever T20 double-header.
1. Three Friday Night Blast Matches
There are not one, not two but three Vitality Blast Friday night matches to enjoy this season! It’s high-octane stuff and there’s always a fantastic atmosphere at Sophia Gardens under the Friday Night Lights.
First up is Kent Spitfires on Friday, 2nd June, before Glamorgan face Essex Eagles a week later, and then welcome Sussex Sharks on 23rd June.
2. Overseas Superstars
Ahead of The Ashes, top-rated batter, Marnus Labuschagne, returns to Glamorgan alongside fellow Australian, Michael Neser, who is also in fine form. They will team up with South African, Colin Ingram, who enjoyed arguably his best year for Glamorgan in 2022.
It’s actually quite selfish having all three players on the Cardiff county’s books at the same time but these prodigious talents will all be playing in 2023 for Glamorgan.
Combined with some exciting local talent, it’s set to be another exciting campaign.
3. England vs New Zealand One Day International
Don’t miss out on the reigning T20 and ODI World Cup holders England against New Zealand in a One Day International (ODI) in the centre of Cardiff when they play at Sophia Gardens on Friday, 8th September.
New Zealand are the number one ranked ODI team in the world, bristling with talent and led by generational cricketer Kane Williamson. Meanwhile, England are ranked number two, so this is set to be a rollercoaster ride of a match!
4. T20 double-header
Glamorgan will play their first-ever T20 double-header at Sophia Gardens along with Western Storm in 2023.
The Welsh county’s Vitality Blast match against Surrey on Wednesday, 7th June will be preceded by Western Storm taking on Blaze in Cardiff.
To book your seat at Sophia Gardens this summer, tickets for all of the above are on sale at glamorgancricket.com
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Business After Sport With Jamie Baulch
Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist
Jamie Baulch on giving back, and the Christmas tree effect.
I’m sat in David Lloyd, with Welsh sporting legend Jamie Baulch; Olympic silver medallist and 3 x World Champion and to-this-day 400 metre British record holder – after almost a quarter of a century.
How did you get started as an athlete?
I was at sports day, 10 years old, running in the obstacle raise, which consisted of 10 metres with the egg and spoon, hurdle a wooden bench, 10 metre sack race, then under a crash mat and sprint finish to the end. I got confused and lost under the crash mat and kinda came out the wrong end, my teacher shouted that I needed to go back and do that last obstacle again, but I thought at the time that he meant to start the race again, so in my confusion ran, did the whole race again, and still won! My talent was spotted, and my Mum and Grandad dropped me off at the Newport Harriers on the following Tuesday.
I was always small, and competing against kids with beards at 12,13,14,15 – so was always coming third and getting beaten. It wasn’t until I got to 16/17 where I was as mature physically as they were – and then started ‘properly’ winning.
My ten first ‘real’ big race was The British Championships up in Stoke, where I ran against Darren Campbell (who was huge at the time) and came second in the 200 meters.
I then represented Great Britain in Spain, won the race and broke the Welsh record (taking it from Colin Jackson).
Because I always used to get beaten when I was younger, it was a really good learning curve for me. It taught me to be a gracious loser, and then on to be eventually a gracious winner – which I’m very grateful for.
In 1991, I was a 200 and 100 metre runner, not a 400-metre runner which I eventually became known for. The jump from being a successful junior, standing in 1st place on the podium, ahead of the Americans, in Seoul to then the seniors – where my first race is competing against Linford Christie, John Regis, Darren Campbell – is SO BIG! In ‘92, Linford won the Olympics, in ‘93 – little old me is running against him. It was like being back at sports day! I’m running against the world – not just people my age! ‘93 and ‘94 were tough years.
It was in ‘94, in the Commonwealth Games, my life changed forever. Colin Jackson asked if I’d like him to be my coach! I was blown away! He was the best in the world! He flew me to America business class to his house to live, and to train with Linford Christie, Merlene Ottey, Mark McKoy, Frankie Fredericks, Darren Campbell – athletics elite. I was living the dream. Then in 1996, I got myself a silver medal – he took me from good to REALLY GOOD. I owe him a lot.
What do you need to be an athlete?
You need the talent and the correct physical make up, and a bit of luck. After that, you then need all the right attributes – the mindset, the skill, the desire, nutrition, having the right people around you.
I call it the Christmas Tree Effect. If you want to be the star on the Christmas tree – you need a bunch of branches to get you to the top – they are branches of success. One branch is support from my parents, one is Colin, one is my nutrition, one is environment, etc.
Paying it back
I was always so grateful to Colin and got my chance to thank him when I became an ambassador for Jaguar cars, and my first athlete that I gifted a car to was Colin. Seeing that smile on his face and being able to a part of that made me so proud.
At what age did you retire?
32, in 2005. Funny story – I was travelling back and forth to America, in and out and it was my fifth time in a year entering the country. I got to customs and was met with such a hostile officer and grilling that I thought, do you know what, I’m done. I went to see my coach straight from the airport and said, ‘’I’m tired, I’m done.’’ I was really missing my two kids back in the UK, I had given my life to athletics and was physically and mentally exhausted. And that was that. 400 metres is a horrible event – the training to race at that level – I’d run 10.1 seconds down the back straight of the 400 meters, Usain Bolt’s record is 9.5 – it was tough!
At what part in your career do you start thinking…what’s next?
Luckily, I knew, from the beginning. I wasn’t a runner. It was something I did, not what I was. It was just a job.
Was there support in place to help you with that transition and to prepare you ahead of that time?
No one ever teaches you about ‘the end’. Nothing happens when you retire – no celebration, no support financially, mentally, physically. I was lucky – I jumped straight into ‘my next job’. For others, they aren’t so lucky.
And what was next for you?
I was always very creative, so I retired from athletics on the Monday, and in the same week I booked a meeting with the WRU to pitch them me taking over their annual calendar, which I thought was awful and wanted to better for them. They said yes, and I built them their most successful calendar to date in terms of sales and visual appeal, and then obtained a licence from them to generate and sell Welsh rugby sports memorabilia. We had an amazing partnership for several years, until they started selling the memorabilia themselves, effectively directly competing with me, so we sadly had to part ways as it made it not viable for me as a business
I then went on to sell my own sports memorabilia, across all sports, which was a huge success, and developed this into a silent auction company; Bid Aid, which generates income for myself, but also supports a number of worldwide charities. I’m very proud of what we do.
How did you find going from a very physical job, to a business job?
The skills are very transferable. VERY different but there are some similarities. Hard work, dedication, drive, etc.
What’s been your big wins in athletics, and in business?
In athletics – for sure The World Indoor Championships in Japan in 1999, becoming the world champion, and calling my Dad as I did the victory lap to tell him. We were both so emotional and I was so so proud to give something back to him after everything he’d done for me. As an adopted child – he literally gave me life!
In business, the feeling of giving back to charity – every single ‘deal’ I do, a huge part of it raises money for charities, so being able to fulfil that, and make a profit for my business, as well as giving the customer a unique product – is huge for me. Happiness from all angles.
How would you measure your happiness in terms of the two careers?
Nothing will ever beat standing on an Olympic rostrum. But my big wins in business are a close (ish) second.
Visit www.bidaid.com to see Jamie’s busines venture.
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Our April Football Roundup
Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist
It has been an exciting few months for Welsh football. Both the men’s and women’s national teams continue their success on the world stage, while Welsh football clubs continue pushing as the season draws to an end.
The Welsh men’s side picked up four points from their first two games in their European Qualification campaign, sealing a dramatic draw in Split against Croatia before beating Latvia 1-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Wales men’s under 17s secured a historic qualification for the European Championships, where they will face Poland, Hungary and the Republic of Ireland in May. Meanwhile, Wales women’s under 19s also secured league A promotion with a 4-0 win over Estonia.
The Wales women’s senior side picked up an excellent 4-1 win at home against Northern Ireland before drawing 1-1 against Portugal in their two recent friendly matches.
Cardiff City have seen an upturn in form since the arrival of Sabri Lamouchi at the end of January, after the sackings of both Steve Morrison and Mark Hudson earlier in the year, but the Bluebirds still have plenty of work to do to avoid going down.
Cardiff won 3-1 at Blackpool on Good Friday, but then lost 1-0 at home to Sunderland on Monday – but a crucial 3-1 win against Watford will have come as welcome relief for the Bluebirds, who will now look to further distance themselves from the drop zone.
It looks increasingly likely that the crucial match for Cardiff will be their penultimate game at home to Huddersfield.
Swansea secured a fourth successive victory in the South Wales Derby against Cardiff – something neither club had managed before in their history – and it was a “double double,” the second successive season where one club has won both fixtures home and away.
In the last nine matches between the clubs, the Swans have won seven, drawn one, and lost just once. It’s a dominance that must irk Bluebirds fans, especially since the decisive blow was delivered as late as the ninth minute of injury time, when Ben Cabango scored the winner.
Swansea have bucked their run of poor results to ease off any relegation fears. Despite a difficult run of results, Russell Martin and his team secured a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Bristol City to take them into the international break 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
It came on the back of a sequence of 10 defeats in 16 games that had seen the Swans drop out of play-off contention, not helped by a difficult January transfer window.
Swansea City continued their recent revival by winning 2-0 at Wigan, having drawn against Coventry City a few days before. It’s too late for any push for the playoffs, but it is giving head coach Russell Martin reasons to stick around next season after his troubles earlier in the campaign.
In League Two, Newport County continue to push hard in the league this year, and they should have enough in the bag to avoid getting dragged into the relegation scrap beneath them.
Wrexham continue to impress at the top the table in the National League, but any potential promotion will have to be hard-earned as Notts County continue to push the Reds all the way ahead of the final run-in. Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson, whose team reached the 100-point landmark currently hold the advantage, but County continue to push the Reds all the way.
In what was widely billed as the biggest game in the history of non-League football, the Dragons overcame Notts County, 3-2, in a thrilling contest on Bank Holiday Monday – one dramatic enough to be turned into a mini-series, which is exactly where it will end up.
Wrexham’s Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were both at The Racecourse Ground to see their club move three points clear of County at the top of the National League.
If the Reds are able to clinch the title, it will mean a return to the Football League next season after a 15-year absence.
In the Cymru Premiership, The New Saints secured their 15th Welsh title with a 0-0 draw against second placed Connah’s Quay Nomads back in March and have continued their impressive form losing just one game all season.
The latter, now looking likely to clinch the runner-up spot.
It has been another exciting season in the Genero Adran League this year. Like TNS, Cardiff City Women had already sewn up the title in the Genero Adran Premier.
The Bluebirds remain unbeaten, having produced a superb season to seal their first Adran league title in a decade.
City’s title win ended Swansea City’s monopoly over the league, as Cardiff City held off their rivals towards the end of the season.
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Our April Rugby Roundup
Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist
Dwayne Peel’s side are now, at time of print, the only Welsh side left standing in European competition, after the Ospreys, the Dragons and Cardiff were all knocked out in April.
The Scarlets overcame French club Clermont Auvergne, 32-30, in Llanelli to make it through to the last four of the European Challenge Cup.
It was a hard-earned win for the Scarlets who trailed for much of the night, despite the fact that Clermont played with only 14 men from the 24th minute onwards following the red card shown to Irae Simone for a dangerous tackle on Leigh Halfpenny.
It was a late conversion from young fly-half Sam Costelow that saw the Scarlets through as Dwayne Peel’s side proved they are the form region in Wales with 11 wins in their last 13 matches.
Should they reach their first European final, they’ll take on either Toulon or Benetton on May 19 in Dublin.
Far more forgettable was the 73-33 defeat suffered by the Dragons against Glasgow in their round of 16 match as the Scottish side ran in 11 tries, including a record five for hooker Johnny Matthews.
Cardiff also made the last eight following an emotional night when they not only came from behind to beat Sale Sharks, 28-27, but also paid heartfelt tributes to their former chairman, Peter Thomas, who died recently at the age of 79.
The club also announced they have renamed their main stand, The Peter Thomas Stand, in honour of their renowned benefactor.
There were rousing acknowledgements to the influence of Thomas on the Arms Park pitch prior to the match, before Wales wing Josh Adams ran in two tries to cap a memorable evening.
Cardiff had hoped to join the Scarlets in the last four, but they lost their Challenge Cup quarter-final, 27-23 to Benetton in rainy Treviso.
It was a disappointing exit for Cardiff who were outscored by three tries to two in a tight contest and just could not find a way through a determined Italian defence late on.
It means there will be no repeat trip to the final for Cardiff, who won Europe’s second tier tournament in 2010 and 2018.
Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young said:
“We were in that game right until the last minute. I’m proud of the players and we definitely have a lot to build on.”
The Ospreys have found themselves within striking distance of Cardiff, and Toby Booth’s side will be confident they can strike a decisive blow come Judgement Day.
However, Wales and Ospreys stalwart Alun Wyn Jones may have played his last European tie for the Ospreys after they lost their Heineken Champions Cup last 16 tie away to Saracens on Sunday, going down 35-20.
The 37-year-old former Wales captain has issued no statements yet on his future, but it has been suggested in some circles that his time as an elite player will come to a close after the World Cup in France in September.
When it was put to Ospreys head coach Toby Booth that the legendary forward had played his last match in front of fans in Swansea, he said: “If that ends up being his last game, he certainly has signed off at the Swansea.com Stadium in style because he was outstanding,”
That would mean the great man has now played his last home game before Ospreys fans as well as his final European match after the Ospreys succumbed to Sarries.
In the Women’s game; Sisilia Tuipulotu is fast becoming one of the stars of the sport in Wales and she underlined her huge talent again with two tries and a second successive player of the match award in the 34-22 victory against Scotland in Edinburgh.
The teenager helped Wales make it two wins from their opening two games, with fellow prop Gwenllian Pyrs also crossing twice.
Tuipulotu – cousin of Wales men’s star Taulupe Faletau – is making rapid strides at the age of 19 and Wales coach Ioan Cunningham said:
“She’s been awesome in the first two games and given us front-foot ball and an opportunity to go forward and play through teams.”
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Cardiff Secured The Welsh Shield With A Dominant Win Over Ospreys
Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist
Cardiff produced a stunning performance to secure a place in the Champions Cup for next season, defeating the Ospreys 38-21 in the second game of Judgement Day 2023.
41,139 supporters flocked to the Welsh capital to watch the four regions compete, but all eyes were on the second game between Cardiff and the Ospreys, as the pair battled for the Welsh Shield and qualification to the Champions Cup.
It was Cardiff who burst into action with early tries from Thomas Young, Max Llewellyn, and Mason Grady in a stunning opening half-hour. The Ospreys hit back early in the second half, as they tried their best to mount a comeback.
However, Cardiff delivered the knockout blow when Williams intercepted a Gareth Anscombe pass to set up Young for Cardiff’s all-important bonus point score under the posts.
The Swansea-based region scored two late tries through Gareth Thomas and Dewi Lake, but Rhys Carre scored a late try to secure a much-needed win for Cardiff.
A clinical Dragons performance gave Dai Flanagan plenty to work on as they achieved their fourth win of the season against an error-laden Scarlets side in the first match at Judgement Day.
Three early tries from Elliott Dee, Jordan Williams, and Sio Tompkinson gave Dai Flanagan’s side the perfect start before a late Steff Hughes try sealed a 31-14 bonus point victory for the men of Gwent following a gritty second-half performance.
It was a nervy opening five minutes for the Scarlets, who lost star man Vaea Fifita to a yellow card before conceding a try, scored by Elliot Dee and converted by Angus O’Brien.
The Dragons took full advantage of the yellow card and were two tries up just two minutes later after some stunning work on the outside from Rio Dyer saw Jordan Williams score easily in the corner, giving the Dragons an early 14-0 lead.
Things went from bad to worse for the Scarlets after conceding a third try in just 16 minutes, with Tompkinson catching the Scarlets defence sleeping.
Although Kieran Hardy added a try on the stroke of the half-time whistle, the Scarlets’ hard work was undone soon after the break when Angus O’Brien added the first points of the second half.
The Scarlets did rally, and after spurning several good chances, Carwyn Tuipolotu scored late on to give his side some hope, but it was too little too late as the Dragons were rewarded late on for their efforts, with former Scarlet Hughes sealing a bonus point victory for the Dragons.
It was a tough Sunday afternoon for the Wales women, who suffered their second defeat in two weeks against a clinical French side.
Wales rallied in the late stages with tries from Georgia Evans and Gwenllian Pyrs, but the French side’s lead proved to be insurmountable, as they ran out 39-14 winners in Grenoble.
Back in Cardiff, Newbridge RFC completed a well-earned 29-13 victory against Nant Conwy in the WRU Division One Cup final. Pontypool RFC then secured their first cup win since 1983 with a 28-16 win over Ystrad Rhondda, winning the WRU Championship Cup.
A stunning finish from Joe Goodchild helped Cardiff RFC snatch a late 13-10 win against Newport RFC to secure the WRU Premiership Cup.