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Are these Stradey's most memorable moments

Welsh
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Are these the 10-most memorable moments in Stradey Park history?

1) The Roy Bergiers charge-down try that helped beat New Zealand 9-3 in 1972.

2) The Phil Bennett conversion that followed.

3) The Andy Hill penalty that drove the final nail into the All Blacks' coffin that day in October, 1972.

4) Skipper Delme Thomas being carried shoulder-high off the field in celebration at the end of that historic encounter.

5) The Ieuan Evans try that helped the Scarlets beat the world champion Wallabies 13-9 in December 1992, in which he went over unopposed after an exquisite move in which centre Simon Davies' decoy run and fly-half Colin Stephens' deft pass sent him through.

6) The words Carwyn James spoke to Phil Bennett before kick-off in New Zealand v Barbarians, 1973 at Cardiff Arms Park: "Go out and show the world what Stradey Park knows." The side-stepping Bennett did just that and the rest began with Gareth Edwards' moment of television history.

7) The wonderful Alan Richards try in Llanelli's 10-9 defeat by the Springboks in 1 January 1970.

8) Having prepared his team in expert manner for that game, Carwyn James' sat in the dressing room in protest at South Africa's apartheid regime throughout the game.

9) The Grant Fox drop-out, into the gale and along the floor, at that start of the second-half that signalled Wayne Shelford's All Blacks' brilliant tactics on the day they beat the Scarlets 11-0 in 1989.

10) Ray Gravell's animated greeting to the world and his mother whenever he saw anyone he knew, caught his eye of someone he didn't or simply fancied offering another great bear-hug to whoever was in his vicinity every time there was a game at Stradey Park.

And here's one we'd rather forget: The bizarre sight of a fan, who had been banned from soccer matches at Nottingham Forest, hurling a ball and foul-mouthed abuse at then Cardiff Blue Jonah Lomu, of all people, in January 2006.

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comment by fabuniquemembername (U10775997)

posted Oct 24, 2008

Brilliant, Gareth. Absolutely superb. My 7-year-old son could produce a better top 10, and he wouldn't even have to use Google.

Put some thought into your next blog.

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comment by richards13 (U8996270)

posted Oct 24, 2008

Cardiff beating Llanelli in a league match there in 95-96 (?) with Copsey whacking Mike Hall. Brave guy. First time I had ever been to Stradey and was struck by how it resembled a bad Fourth Division football ground. Home fans using obscenities to abuse visiting fans and old ladies spitting on the Cardiff players as they left the pitch. Needless to say Cardiff won the game. I found it funny at time anyway, but not as funny as when Cardiff smashed them in the cup there a few years later. Maybe Phil May should have played in that one.

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comment by wynjer (U4427681)

posted Oct 25, 2008

Nice to know richards13 hasn't been soured by the experience of visiting Stardey. He does have a good memory though, 'cos Cardiff didn't win there often!
winkeye

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comment by richards13 (U8996270)

posted Oct 25, 2008

Ho ho ho. It was pretty sour regardless of the rugby. Prefer Kingsholm to be honest. The two wins I have referred to were enough to be honest. I do, however, wish that Grav could have been there last night. Very sad.

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comment by suggy5 (U6717778)

posted Oct 26, 2008

I've only been to Stradey Park once. There wasnt even a match on. (I'd taken a 2 week holiday to South Wales and while i was there toured a few grounds)
The atmosphere on that day was sensational. To know that i was at one of the greatest rugby grounds of all time sent shivers down my spine.
I could imagine all the great games being played there like the defeat of NZ in 1972, and was only left to wonder what it'd have been like to have actually been there.

Stradey Park and it's Pan topped posts will be missed by fans everywhere.

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comment by taffno7 (U13653787)

posted Oct 26, 2008

all good moments....but there must be something with johnathan davies,or jj or carwyn and some other legends.. 10 greats is not enough.. what about lyn davies' tackle against the aussies.. awesome...changed the game...

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comment by JB1973 (U9701706)

posted Oct 27, 2008

alan reynolds smashing the emyr "tarw" lewis backwards with one of the best tackles ever in welsh club match and a rare victory for the whites down there.

and playing on the youth team pitches and changing in stradey itself!!

Great ground. great history they are not my team but I wish them well in their new stadium

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comment by TurkishPete (U12894611)

posted Oct 27, 2008

oh another bad night at stradey park when aberavon came to visit during a cup game when the turks were winning with a few minutes left on the clock and up popped Ray Giles to score and leave the place quiet!!!!

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comment by BonnieJonnie (U13656731)

posted Oct 27, 2008

I used to watch Bennett, JJ, Gravel, Quinnell, Hefin Jenkins aged 5 - 8 with my dad when it was a amature game. Great childhood memories including eating dinner with the players after the game sitting next to JJ and oposite Phil Bennett, a childs dream come true.

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