Buns rising from the ashes of big upheaval.

Byline: Howard Evans 

ST ALBANS prides itself on the way it produces players through the mini and youth team and if they show signs of above average ability, players are aided to try their fortunes at higher-level clubs.

Over recent years players like Nathan Trevett (Glamorgan Wdrs), Ryan Harford (Pontypridd), Sam Feehan (Caerphilly) and Nathan Hill (Cross Keys) have all gone on to establish themselves with top division clubs and the latest to get good reviews is the young full-back Daniel Fish at Glamorgan Wanderers.

This season the policy back-fired on the club, as after spending years developing a young squad of very promising players, nine chose to try their luck elsewhere, leaving a big hole to fill. Following this the club coach also left.

But, as always, the grit of the Buns was still working and out of the ashes and after two very heavy defeats they have attracted some new players with an abundance of ability, and the new coaching team of Bobby Chapman and Ieuan Davies has re-established a very useful squad of committed players.

Following these defeats St Albans have bounced back with a good win away to Canton and perhaps more pleasing, a very good squad win against a strong Pencoed second team.

Treasurer Tom Broad said: "This new spirit also has spread to off-the-field activities and a new player entertainments committee arranged a Halloween dance at the club which turned out to be a great success.

"With this sprit we hope to finish the season on a high."

The Tremorfa-based Cardiff club have won three of their seven Swalec League fixtures this season, but at least have four clubs below them.

The season opened with a 24-6 loss at Cowbridge, but then they snatched a 21-17 home win over Dinas Powys and edged a 24-23 win away to Old Penarthians.

The next game was also a one-point difference, but it was a 15-14 home loss to Cilfynydd and was followed with a 46-10 thrashing at Deri Then came their worst performance as they crashed 75-5 at home to Blackwood Stars.

Somehow, the Buns lifted themselves to win 22-13 at Canton, but they dropped out of the Swalec Bowl with a 38-0 loss to Caerau (Ely) on Cardiff's Trelai Park.

The club have never won a divisional title in the Welsh league, but did take the coveted Mallett Cup in 1968 after years of trying and repeated that in 1976, 1987 and 1990.

The also took part in the final game played on the old Arms Park, before it became the National Ground, when they won that 1968 final over St David's.

St Albans also played in the 100th anniversary of the Mallett Cup when they lost 10-3 to Fairwater in the 1994 final and their penalty came from the fabulous boot of scrum-half Gerald Lewis.

It was Lewis who played huge parts in a magnificent St Albans hat-trick of Worthington Welsh District Cup final wins in 1989, 1992 and 1996 against Hartridge HSOB, Fairwater and Wattstown respectively.

Added to that has been the second team lifting the Ninian Stuart Cup in 1956, 1957, 1976, 1980, 1982 and 1991.

The club began in 1908. The school turned to rugby in 1910, but it was the St Albans Band who played most on the Arms Park! But, whether the team played at Splott Park or Tremorfa Park, they are still famed throughout Cardiff.

CAPTION(S):

The 1992 St Albans side which won the Welsh District Cup back in 1992, beating Fairwater in the final