CPD Y Rhyl 1879 – could we possibly end up with a season of double invincibles?

Rhyl (white) on the attack against Glan Conwy on Saturday. Picture: RAY HIBBS

34 league matches and not a single defeat – CPD Y Rhyl 1879 are bidding for a male and female title double in some style.

Rhyl 1879 ladies are top of the North Wales Women’s League with a record of 13 wins and two draws from 15 matches.

Meanwhile, the men’s team are currently second in the Tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier Division, undefeated all season in 19 games and just two points in arrears of leaders Prestatyn Sports with four matches in hand.

1879 women are favourites to end up champions, although fellow town-based NFA are still well in contention, five points behind, but having played one game less than their arch rivals.

Rhyl still have to visit NFA in the title run-in, so that could well end up being a championship decider.

Whatever happens, though, a brilliant 1879 women’s squad put together last summer and containing a mix of experience and youth have been extremely impressive in avoiding a single league loss so far.

Rhyl have scored more league goals than any senior women’s team in North Wales – 95 in 15 games – and conceded the least, a miserly 11.

Rhyl (white) and NFA are pushing for the title. 1879 won 1-0 at Belle Vue in a close derby in February. Pictured are NFA’s Ashleigh Mills (blue) and 1879’s Emily Bentley and Becca Bannister. Picture: MATT JOHNSON

Their leading markswoman is Candice Nellist on 26 goals, but five others are in double figures across all competitions: Emily Bentley (15), Rachael Nattrass (13), Tegan Crockett (12), Becca Bannister (12) and Niomi Taylor (10).

Most of the team’s goals have come in the league, as Rhyl only played in the Welsh Cup where they scored five over two ties. That makes it 100 goals exactly in league and cup.

As for the men, they have won 17 and drawn two, scored 84 goals and let in just 17 – again making them the stingiest defence in the division.

Only one team has managed to hold Gareth Thomas’ men to draws – fellow title contenders Llannefydd, 2-2 away and 1-1 at Belle Vue.

Leading the goals tally on 20 in the league and 31 over all matches is the highly experienced former Chesterfield and The New Saints striker Carl Lamb, while fellow front man Kieran Ellis has been flying since joining 1879 last December, banging in 20 so far.

Like all good teams, Rhyl 1879 have players who can score regularly across all positions.

So, while both the 1879 men’s and women’s teams still have work to do to win their respective league titles, no-one can deny they have performed marvels to both emerge unbeaten so far.

CPD Y RHYL 1879 MEN – NORTH WALES COAST WEST PREMIER DIVISION RESULTS 2021-22

July 14: Penmaenmawr Phoenix (away) W 3-2
Aug 4: Llannefydd (away) D 2-2
Aug 28: Bro Cernyw (home) W 5-2
Sep 25: Llansannan (home) W 4-1
Oct 2: Rhuddlan Town (away) W 6-2
Oct 9: Kinmel Bay (home) W 3-2
Oct 16: Llandudno Junction (home) W 7-1
Oct 23: Mochdre Sports (home) W 2-0
Nov 20: Llansannan (away) W 8-2
Nov 27: Bro Cernyw (away) W 3-1
Jan 8: Penmaenmawr Phoenix (home) W 8-0
Jan 22: Llandudno Junction (away) W 6-0
Jan 29: Llannefydd (home) D 1-1
Feb 12: Llanfairfechan Town (home) W 6-0
Feb 26: Prestatyn Sports (home) W 4-0
Mar 19: Mochdre Sports (away) W 2-1
Mar 26: Meliden (away) W 4-0
Apr 9: Kinmel Bay (away) W 7-0
Apr 16: Glan Conwy (home) W 3-0

PLAYED 19 WON 17 DRAWN 2 LOST 0 GOALS FOR 84 AGAINST 17

To play

Apr 23: Llandyrnog United (away)
Apr 27: Prestatyn Sports (away)
Apr 30: Llandyrnog United (home)
May 4: Meliden (home)
May 7: Glan Conwy (away)
May 11: Rhuddlan Town (home)
May 14: Llanfairfechan Town (away)

CPD Y RHYL 1879 – NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE RESULTS 2021-22

Sep 5: Northop Hall (away) W 1-0
Oct 10: Bangor 1876 (home) W 8-1
Oct 24: Welshpool Town (away) W 3-1
Nov 7: Amlwch Town (home) D 1-1
Nov 14: Llangefni Town (away) W 12-0
Nov 21: Holywell (away) W 6-0
Nov 28: Trearddur Bay (home) W 12-0
Dec 12: Northop Hall (home) D 2-2
Jan 16: Llanystumdwy (away) W 12-1
Jan 23: Bangor 1876 (away) W 5-3
Feb 6: NFA (home) W 1-0
Mar 13: Llanystumdwy (home) W 7-0
Mar 20: Trearddur Bay (away) W 9-0
Apr 3: Amlwch Town (away) W 5-2
Apr 17: Llangefni Town (home) W 11-0