Having sealed their title triumph with a 42-5 home victory over Pontypool on Saturday 27th April, the team carried off the
SWALEC Division 3 East title.
The squad have only lost once during the campaign, that defeat coming during the first game of the season against Pontypool.
Top points scorer Chris Stevens, who only took over kicking duties in October, has notched up 177 points so far, adding to his tally during the title-winning match against Pontypool. Winger Aled Penn, who is the club’s top try scorer, also added to his tally with a hat-trick of tries against local rivals Pontypool, taking him to 23 tries with three games remaining.
The club has seen a remarkable rise since reforming in 2004 following the collapse of Abertillery RFC. Starting afresh in the league’s bottom division for the 2004/05 season, Abertillery Blaenau Gwent have since worked their way up to Division 3 East with a squad boasting its club’s youth and junior products.
Team Manager Gareth Pitman said: “Throughout this season it’s come down to a collective performance. We’re extremely lucky to have a local group of talented youngsters at our disposal and a good youth set-up coming through.
“We’ve added a sprinkling of senior player like (former Ospreys and Dragons fly-half) Shaun Connor, who has had a major influence on the squad this season.”
Captain and scrum-half Luke Pegler added “Winning Division 3 East is a massive achievement for everyone involved. Our success has come down to good coaching, good work ethic and commitment in training and a great camaraderie amongst the squad.
“Abertillery RFC were playing top flight rugby not so long ago and we’re slowly creeping our way back. The whole town has got behind the team throughout the season and it’s great to be able to reward them with the division title.”
