Cardiff Met Athletic complete league and cup double

Cardiff Met Athletic completed a memorable league and cup double after ending their season with victory in the Worthington’s Malcolm Thomas Cup.

The students defeated higher-division Llantwit Major 20-19 in a dramatic final at Glamorgan Wanderers, adding cup silverware to the Division Five East Central title they had already secured after an excellent league campaign.

It marks the first double for Cardiff Met Athletic and reflects the progress made by the squad under head coach Adam Dove. Cardiff Met won 17 of their 18 league matches on their way to the Division Five East Central title, before stepping up in the cup to overcome a Llantwit Major side who played two divisions above them this season.

The final provided a fitting ending to a campaign built on consistency, resilience and belief. Cardiff Met trailed late on before centre Michael Yalland crossed for a crucial try, giving outside half Archie Dowson the chance to produce the decisive moment with a remarkable drop-kicked conversion under pressure.

With Llantwit Major charging down and the ball coming loose from the tee, Dowson kept his composure to send the conversion through the posts and edge Athletic back in front. From there, Cardiff Met had to withstand heavy late pressure, producing one final defensive stand to secure the result and complete the double.

For head coach Adam Dove, the achievement was a proud reward for the work the group had put in across the season. While the cup final provided the dramatic finish, he was keen to recognise the consistency shown by the squad throughout the league campaign and the character they showed against higher-ranked opposition.

“It’s the cherry on top of the cake,” said Dove. “The boys have had a great season in Division Five, facing some difficult teams to play against in terms of being very physical and very proud teams.

“But to take that to Division Three and win this cup is a massive statement for us and I’m really proud of the boys. It was a never-say-die attitude. I want to credit Llantwit Major as well, it was a hell of a final.

“For some of our boys, it’s their last time wearing the shirt, so what an ending and I’m really happy for them. This is something they can leave with the club and they’ve left a legacy, the first double for Athletic, and we’ll be talking about these guys for ages.”

Second row Harry Sigley captained the side on the day, helping guide a young Cardiff Met team through a fiercely contested final. Having already delivered the league title, Athletic showed the same togetherness and composure in the cup to finish the season with two trophies.

Cardiff Met’s cup final scorers were Matt Leatham, Charlie Hingorani and Yalland, with Dowson adding a penalty and the decisive conversion. Llantwit Major pushed Athletic all the way, with Corey Hearne, Owen Hill and Rhys David crossing for tries, while Luke Ingram added two conversions.

The double also reflects the important role the Cardiff Met Rugby programme continues to play in developing the person, student and athlete. For Athletic, attention will soon turn to the challenge ahead, as the squad prepare to step up into Division Four next season with momentum, confidence and plenty still to build on.