The prestigious West Wales Cup final, due to be played on Thursday night, has been cancelled after WRU Championship-bound Ystalyfera RFC couldn’t raise a team.
The competition, formerly known as the Tovali Cup, which has been going since 1933, was due to see defending champions 'Fera' take on their Division One West Central rivals Glynneath.
But with the West Central champions only able to field six forwards, the final has now been cancelled.
The Ystalyfera squad has taken a battering in recent weeks completing their league programme before going into a two-legged play-off with One West champions Felinfoel for the right to be playing alongside the likes of Pontypool, Neath, Bedwas, Cross Keys and Bargoed in the Championship next season.
Having come through the two play-off games to book their Championship passport, Ystalyfera then had to play Nantyffyllon in the Glamorgan County Silver Ball Final at the Brewery Field.
They ended up playing that match without nine first team players, who were away on a rugby tour in Benidorm, and went down 18-12.
And despite those players returning home this week, the club are unable to field a side for the West Wales Cup final.
Any chance 'Fera' had of drafting in permit players for the final was also scuppered as it's against competition rules.
The game is now unlikely to be rescheduled for this season meaning there's no winner of the trophy, though Ystalyfera are exploring the possibility of playing the match at the start of the 2019-20 campaign.
"All the games in the last couple of weeks have taken their toll," said Ystalyfera secretary Noir James.
"We wanted to bring in permit players but because it was a cup final we couldn't do it.
"We're looking at the possibility of starting next season by playing the final. We're hoping to bring that proposal in front of the committee the next time they meet.
"We're just so short of number up front with six forwards available and we just cannot bring people in to help out the front row.
"The tour of Benidorm meant we played the Silver Ball final nine players short but they're back from that trip.
"They were carrying injuries from the Felinfoel game and it's got worse and like most amateur clubs we rely on shift patterns with the boys in work.
"Where boys have had time off to play these game in midweek it's difficult to get more time off with their employers."
