AUWR and Bristol 2nds, Image taken from @aberuniwomensrugby
Written by Ella Gibbs, Translated by Iwan Thomas
Three is the magic number as Aberystwyth University Women’s rugby team bring home a victory on the undefeated home pitch, Vicarage playing fields, after three years of repetitive losses.
Aberystwyth women’s rugby team set the tone for a prosperous new season on Wednesday the 1st of February, kicking off the first game of the semester with a win of 12-10 against University of Bristol Women’s rugby club seconds team.
The team have evidenced their hard work in training since their first match against Bristol in the first semester where they lost 31-12, those twelve points which had been their best score since 2020. This win irrefutably a testament to their progression, not only in their ability to score points, but in their improvement to their line of defence.
Jordan Snapes try – image taken from @aberuniwomensrugby
The first try was achieved by social secretary and number 4, Cath McCartney in the 54th minute of the game, she said that ‘it meant so much to get the try. After having such a tough first half, with our team dominating and nothing to show for it, having something to recognise for the hard work was an incredible moment.’ She also added, ‘I am really proud of the girl’s performance and chuffed to be part of a team of such amazing girls. We have all worked so hard over the last few months, so to have everyone giving it their all and showing how far we have come was amazing. The win has given the team the boost we needed.’
The try was followed by a successful conversion kick by the captain, number 8, Georgia Reed-Davies, who said: ‘I hope everyone is feeling proud of themselves and their team for the effort it took to get the win, and that everyone on the pitch last Wednesday made a difference and got us to that win!’
The second try was scored by Scrum half Jordan Snape
in the overtime of the match. She is a fresher to the team and when asked how much it meant to her to score the winning try in the ‘84th’ minute of the match she stated that: ‘It meant the absolute world to me, especially after such a tough year. To be able to score the winning try was unreal, especially as the clock had turned red and after everyone on the team put a huge shift in, it was relieving to have all the hard work we’ve all put in since September and some girls, even longer, finally pay off.’ She further added that ‘emotions after the game were so intense you could feel how much it meant to the older girls and even the new girls. It's now a goal of mine to get at least one try every game, even if it doesn’t happen, just to have that goal is a huge step up for me.’
Line out- AUWR V UBWRFC- Image from @aberuniwomensrugby
The game was an emotional one for those girls of the team that have been there since the last win, three years ago.
Last year’s captain, Liv Carter, who was supporting the team from the side lines, was reduced to tears at the final blow of the whistle. Commenting on the game, she stated that ‘as president this year and former captain, I am immensely proud of the girls win against Bristol last Wednesday. Most of the girls, including myself, were reduced to tears, as this marks the first game won since February 2020.’
The game was also emotional for those that have supported the team through their matches over the last few years, with Aberystwyth University Men’s rugby congratulating the women’s team on their win and encouraging their high spirits.
Bristol also fought well throughout the duration of the match. They demonstrated the great sportsmanship that rugby is well-regarded for through their congratulations to the Aber team, saying they deserved the win after so long and such a tough grind.
Charlotte Painter, Winger at number 11 for this match, commented on the win saying, ‘It felt amazing to be a part of the win as a fresher, regardless of the outcome, I felt that for the first time since starting rugby I could see the progress that I had made, and it has made me feel more confident as a player.’ When asked if she thought the win will impact her team’s training and attitude towards playing in the future, she added that, ‘knowing that we can win, will I think encourage us all to train harder, especially as we have seen how effective our hard work has been thus far.’
The match clearly meant a lot to the team and they celebrated their result with a Pub-Golf social. They have proved that they are a team that deserve to be competing, and this result has clearly impacted the team with the hope that it will propel them towards a successful season.
AUWR on ‘Victory Hill’ after match concluded- Image from @aberuniwomensrugby
‘Tries of Joy’ i Rygbi Merched Aber
Tri yw’r rhif hud wrth i dîm rygbi Merched Prifysgol Aberystwyth ddod â’r fuddugoliaeth gartref ar eu maes cartref diguro, sef meysydd chwarae’r Ficerdy, ar ôl tair blynedd o drechu dro ar ôl tro.
Gosododd tîm rygbi merched Aberystwyth y naws ar gyfer tymor newydd llewyrchus ar ddydd Mercher 1af Chwefror, gan gychwyn gêm gyntaf y semester gyda buddugoliaeth o 12-10 yn erbyn tîm eiliadau clwb rygbi Merched Prifysgol Bryste.
Mae’r tîm wedi dangos tystiolaeth o’u gwaith caled wrth hyfforddi ers eu gêm gyntaf yn erbyn Bryste yn y tymor cyntaf lle collon nhw 31-12, y deuddeg pwynt hynny oedd y sgôr gorau ers 2020. Mae’r fuddugoliaeth hon yn brawf o’u dilyniant, nid yn unig yn eu gallu i sgorio pwyntiau, ond yn eu gwelliant i'w hamddiffyniad.
Gwnaed y cais cyntaf gan yr ysgrifennydd cymdeithasol a rhif 4, Cath McCartney yn 54 munud o'r gêm, dywedodd 'Roedd yn golygu cymaint i gael y cais. Ar ôl cael hanner cyntaf mor galed, gyda'n tîm yn dominyddu a heb ddim i'w ddangos ar ei gyfer, roedd cael rhywbeth i gydnabod y gwaith caled yn foment anhygoel." Ychwanegodd hefyd, 'Rwy'n falch iawn o berfformiad y ferch ac yn falch iawn. falch o fod yn rhan o dîm o ferched mor anhygoel Rydym i gyd wedi gweithio mor galed dros y misoedd diwethaf, felly mae cael pawb i roi eu cyfan a dangos pa mor bell rydym wedi dod yn anhygoel.Mae'r fuddugoliaeth wedi rhoi'r fantais i'r tîm. hwb yr oedd ei angen arnom.'
Dilynwyd y cais gyda chic trosiad llwyddiannus gan y capten, rhif 8, Georgia Reed-Davies, a ddywedodd: ‘Rwy’n gobeithio bod pawb yn teimlo’n falch o’u hunain a’u tîm am yr ymdrech a gymerodd i sicrhau’r fuddugoliaeth, a bod pawb sydd ar y blaen. Gwnaeth y cae ddydd Mercher diwethaf wahaniaeth a'n cael ni i'r fuddugoliaeth honno!'
Sgoriwyd yr ail gais gan y mewnwr-sgrym Jordan Snape mewn goramser. Mae hi'n newydd i'r tîm a phan ofynnwyd iddi faint roedd hi'n ei olygu iddi hi i sgorio'r cais buddugol yn yr '84ain munud' o'r gêm dywedodd, 'Roedd yn golygu'r byd absoliwt i mi fi, yn enwedig ar ôl blwyddyn mor galed. Roedd gallu sgorio’r cais buddugol yn afreal, yn enwedig gan fod y cloc wedi troi’n goch ac ar ôl i bawb ar y tîm roi shifft enfawr i mewn, roedd yn rhyddhad cael yr holl waith caled rydym i gyd wedi ei wneud ers mis Medi a mae rhai merched, hyd yn oed yn hirach, yn talu ar ei ganfed o'r diwedd.” Ychwanegodd ymhellach, “Roedd yr emosiynau ar ôl y gêm mor ddwys fel y gallech chi deimlo cymaint yr oedd yn ei olygu i'r merched hŷn a hyd yn oed y merched newydd. Fy nod nawr yw cael o leiaf un cynnig bob gêm, hyd yn oed os nad yw'n digwydd, mae cyrraedd y nod hwnnw yn gam mawr ymlaen i mi.'
Roedd y gêm yn un emosiynol i’r merched hynny o’r tîm sydd wedi bod yno ers y fuddugoliaeth ddiwethaf, dair blynedd yn ôl.
Cafodd capten y llynedd, Liv Carter, oedd yn cefnogi’r tîm o’r llinell ochr, ei leihau i ddagrau ar y chwiban olaf. Wrth sôn am y gêm gan ddweud, 'Fel llywydd a chyn-gapten eleni, rwy'n hynod falch o fuddugoliaeth y merched yn erbyn Bryste ddydd Mercher diwethaf. Roedd y rhan fwyaf o’r merched, gan gynnwys fi fy hun, wedi lleihau i ddagrau, gan fod hyn yn nodi’r gêm gyntaf a enillwyd ers Chwefror 2020’.
Roedd y gêm hefyd yn un emosiynol i’r rhai sydd wedi cefnogi’r tîm trwy eu gemau dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, gyda Rygbi Dynion Prifysgol Aberystwyth yn llongyfarch tîm y merched ar eu buddugoliaeth ac yn annog eu hysbrydoedd uchel.
Brwydrodd Bryste yn dda trwy gydol y gêm hefyd. Fe ddangoson nhw’r sbortsmonaeth wych sydd gan rygbi yn uchel trwy eu llongyfarchiadau i dîm Aber, gan ddweud eu bod yn haeddu’r fuddugoliaeth ar ôl cymaint o amser a chymaint o waith caled.
Dywedodd Charlotte Painter, asgellwr rhif 11 ar gyfer y gêm hon, am y fuddugoliaeth gan ddweud, 'Roedd yn teimlo'n anhygoel i fod yn rhan o'r fuddugoliaeth fel dyn ffres, waeth beth oedd y canlyniad, roeddwn yn teimlo, am y tro cyntaf ers dechrau rygbi, ein bod yn gallu gweld y cynnydd roeddwn wedi’i wneud, ac mae wedi gwneud i mi deimlo’n fwy hyderus fel chwaraewr.” Pan ofynnwyd iddi a oedd hi’n meddwl y byddai’r fuddugoliaeth yn effeithio ar hyfforddiant ei thîm ac agwedd tuag at chwarae yn y dyfodol, ychwanegodd, ‘Gan wybod y gallwn ennill , rwy'n meddwl y bydd yn ein hannog ni i gyd i hyfforddi'n galetach, yn enwedig gan ein bod wedi gweld pa mor effeithiol y bu ein gwaith caled hyd yn hyn.'
Roedd y gêm yn amlwg yn golygu llawer i’r tîm, ac fe wnaethon nhw ddathlu eu canlyniad gyda gêm gymdeithasol o Pub-Golf. Maen nhw wedi profi eu bod yn dîm sy’n haeddu bod yn cystadlu, ac mae’r canlyniad hwn yn amlwg wedi effeithio ar y tîm gyda’r gobaith y bydd yn eu gyrru tuag at dymor llwyddiannus.