With the Celtic Cup over for another season, a number of Cardiff Blues players appeared in the Indigo Group Premiership over the weekend.
The league itself was returning after three weeks off, with Cardiff RFC at home to Swansea, while Pontypridd and Merthyr headed on the road to RGC and Bridgend, respectively.
Cardiff
Blue and Blacks head coach Steve Law was able to give Teddy Williams his first start at this level in the second row, and welcome back last season’s Premiership Young Player of the Year Ben Thomas to the centre at the Arms Park.
It was the latter who made the biggest impact on the game, breaking the Swansea line mid-way through the first half to set up the move that eventually saw Cardiff score their second try of the game in a 17-10 win.
Tighthead prop Will Davies-King, hooker Kirby Myhill and full-back Dan Fish all came off the bench during the second half as the Blue and Blacks stayed top of the league.
Pontypridd
It was the long trip up to North Wales for the Valley Commandos on Saturday, but ultimately a fruitless one for Justin Burnell’s men.
Alun Lawrence started at number eight, with Jamie Hill entering the fray at scrum-half during the second half, but neither could prevent Pontypridd falling to a 26-8 defeat at the hands of RGC.
Merthyr
Second row Ben Murphy returned to the Ironmen squad over the weekend, having been a key part of last season’s Premiership winning squad at The Wern.
He played 50 minutes but was powerless to stop Merthyr falling to a surprise 17-13 loss at the hands of Bridgend, their second loss in the opening three games.