By guest columnist, Carl Field

Treorchy lifted the Worthington’s Mid District Championship Cup after defeating Aberdare at Sardis Road on Tuesday night.

Having held a 24-19 lead at the break, the Zebras earned their stripes with 12 unanswered points after the re-start to claim the cup.

Ex-Pontypridd hooker Rob Jones – back on his old stomping ground – scored a try in each half. Second row Owen Cox and man of the match winning prop Kamren Harris also went over for Treorchy, in addition to a second half penalty try.

Outside half Jordan Lloyd added three conversions and a penalty.

For Aberdare it meant cup final heartache for the second year running, having lost out to Beddau in last season’s Mid District Championship final.

Captain Owen Young and wing Jack Piontecki scored the Aberdare tries, both of which were unconverted, although Mason Daniels successfully kicked three penalty goals.

The victory also tasted even sweeter for Jones, who was back at the House of Pain almost exactly a year to the day since running out for his 100th – and last – Pontypridd appearance in the Mid District Premiership Cup final against Merthyr.

He had to settle for a runners-up medal on that occasion but, now back with his local club after seven years with the Valley Commandos –  which included scoring a try at the Principality Stadium in a cup final win for Ponty over Cross Keys in 2025 – Jones was delighted to be able help lead Treorchy to cup glory.

“It’s testament to the boys to be honest, they deserve that for all the graft they’ve put in,” said Jones.

“It’s been tough at times over the past few seasons but we’ve built, kept the squad together and we’ve got a lot of youth coming through now as well.

“We’re all local boys playing for our valley club and when you get days like this you remember them for life.

“That was one of the main talking points for me before the game. These are the days you cherish when you get older and, to be fair, the boys delivered.”

The Mid District clubs in Admiral National Championship East all battle it out for a place in the final based on their league results against each other over the season.

Treorchy had been due to meet Penallta, but Aberdare agreed to step in after the Pitmen were unable to fulfil the fixture.

Lloyd got the scoreboard ticking with a sixth minute penalty, but it was Aberdare first over the whitewash three minutes later through flanker and skipper Young to go in front for the first and only time, with the try unconverted.

By 18 minutes Treorchy had opened up a 17-5 lead, courtesy of tries from Jones and Cox. Lloyd added the extras to both, before Aberdare responded through a Piontecki score on 26 minutes.

Daniels’ conversion hit the post – but he was spot on with two penalty attempts from the tee to pull the Snakes back to within a point at 17-16 down.

Tighthead Harris barged over a third Treorchy try before the break, again converted, but Daniels split the posts again for Aberdare as the players headed down the tunnel.

The final was perfectly poised but the second half belonged to the Zebras with their powerful pack of forwards dominant.

They were awarded a penalty try six minutes after the re-start and then, six minutes later, Jones had his second try, as Treorchy went on to see out the win to make it a hat-trick of triumphs over Aberdare this season as the celebrations began.

Scorers:

Treorchy:

Tries: Rob Jones 2, Owen Cox, Kamren Harris, Penalty try

Cons: Jordan Lloyd 3

Pen: Jordan Lloyd

Aberdare:

Tries: Owen Young, Jack Piontecki

Pens: Mason Daniels 3

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