The wet conditions did not encourage running and handling. The boot dominated, and former Swansea stalwart Aled Williams and half-back partner Adrian Davies had a distinct edge over the comparatively inexperienced Blackwood pairing of Leighton Johnson and Chris Lay. The same applied to full-backs Stuart Hancox and Dean Brown, although the latter certainly did not deserve the programme error which named him as "Dead Brown".

The line-out ascendancy of Llandovery’s Colin Lewis and Daniel Stead plus the leadership of Mark Lewis and the opportunism of No 8 Paul Jones had Blackwood’s pack back-pedalling despite the hard work of No 8 Mathew Veator and lock Ian Jones. The visitors could be accused of a lack of adventure, but the end justified the means in terms of league points.

"Far from proving an advantage to us, the missing man seemed to disrupt our pack," said Hussey, who admitted Newbridge were largely the authors of their own misfortune. Willing to attempt risky tactics in their own half, they lacked the same adventure when in attacking positions.

From the outset Llandovery were a strong and hard-tackling side who prevented Newbridge playing their preferred expansive game. Forced to keep it tight the home side found the visitors' pack more than equal to the challenge. Nevertheless, with ties by flanker Rhys Bowen and prop Phil Sedgemore - both converted by outside-half Jason Williams who also kicked two penalties - Newbridge changed ends with a 20-11 interval advantage.

Then, surprisingly, Llandovery took command. Centre Emrys Evans scored a try 12 minutes into the second period and full-back Stuart Hancox converted to reduce the arrears to only two points.

Llandovery had crossed four times in that opening period but Tredegar came back strongly and were within nine points at one stage before the old maestro Aled Williams took centre stage. The former Bridgend and Swansea fly-half scored a typical opportunist try that fullback Stuart Hancox converted to finally put the issue beyond doubt.

Tredegar were still to have the last say as they were awarded a penalty try for persistent infringements from the home side but it was too late to affect the outcome. Certainly on this evidence Tredegar will be able to consolidate on their return to this level of rugby and must have taken great comfort from the way in which their pack performed against a robust Drovers' eight.

With the prospect of regaining the leadership of Division One, Dunvant were on fire at the start of the match despite playing into the teeth of the strong wind and driving rain. Within 20 minutes they roared into a 19-0 lead courtesy of three superb tries in as impressive a spell of controlled rugby that any coach could have hoped for – especially given the conditions. "We were absolutely tremendous," said Perdue. "That was the best performance we have put in this season. We were like a well-oiled machine and controlled the game superbly throughout," he added. New Zealander Duncan McNabb, Perdue’s opposite number, was not inclined to disagree with that assessment. "They were very very impressive and faultless in the opening quarter of the game," said the Kiwi.

Llandovery must have fancied their chances of taking Dunvant’s scalp, having gone seven games without defeat, but they were blown away by a committed 15-man display from the Broadacre men. The Swansea outfit, with their forwards handling, driving and rucking impressively, gave their back division plenty of space to work in and how they capitalised on it. All four Dunvant tries came from the back division and perhaps the only disappointment for them was Arwel Rowlands’s late try for the Drovers which denied them a bonus point.

The Drovers flattered early on, going into a 7-0 lead with a brilliant individual try from left wing Mark Jones, who showed a lovely blend of balance, speed and power to leave opponents trailing in his wake on a 40-metre run. Full-back Stuart Hancox converted well, but from then on Jones never saw the ball.

Abertillery locks Tony Edwards and Dorian Medlicott won outstanding line-out ball, the back runs of Gareth Howells, Geraint Gladwyn and Simon Bayliss ruled the roost in attack and defence and Llandovery’s blinkered efforts to run through rather than round men brought neither reward nor points. Fly-half Phil Withers with a penalty and drop-goal got the Gwent men to within one point at half-time and then No. 8 Gladwyn, in the fly-half position from a shortened line-out, burst thrpugh three weak tackles for a 50^th-minute try converted by Withers.

One try was the product of a daring blindside turn from Roberts, a quick pass from fly-half Aled Williams and a surging gazelle-like spring from Jones which left defenders trailing. Roberts was involved in both the Aled Williams and second of Jones' tries.

Cooper's opposite number, Geraint Williams, was upbeat after seeing the Drovers claim their first haul of maximum points. "We're getting into the try-scoring habit, confidence is returning and a number of players are hitting top form," said Williams.

He will be the first to admit that Maesteg offered little but honest endeavour, epitomised by back-row men Chris Kinsey and Jamie Costain, and that visitors Merthyr will provide appreciably stronger opposition next Saturday.

Lock Gareth Phillips, in line-out and loose, prop Dorian Williams in the open and scrum-half Jamie Roberts were in eye-catching form for the Drovers. Roberts was sharp as a needle in scoring two tries, one of which was a brilliant solo effort when he took a quick penalty 40 yards out and left both Maesteg and his own men trailing far behind him as he swerved through for the try of the match.

Roberts's first try and one by veteran lock John Westgarth plus a conversion and penalty from full-back Stuart Hancox had given Llandovery a 15-3 interval lead - Maesteg's lone score being a penalty by fly-half Richard Davies. Then fly-half Aled Williams, twice, Roberts, centre Huw Thomas and prop Matt Monaghan raced in, while replacement flanker Nathan Williams and wing Lee Jones got Maesteg tries through home mistakes.

A heavy pitch favoured the Police and their powerful pack but Llandovery moved the ball wide whenever they had the chance and claimed a bonus point with a 5-1 try count. "I thought that we played pretty well given the conditions and you always know that the Police will come and make a real game of it," said Drovers skipper Mark Lewis. "We want to try and play an expansive game and believe that we have the players here to do it," he added.

With veteran Aled Williams pulling the strings at fly-half Llandovery looked far more incisive in attack than the Police. And in former Welsh youth winger Mark Jones they had the man to finish off the moves. Jones claimed a try hat-trick with Daniel Stead and Chris Hughes also going over.

Blue and Blacks too good for gutsy Drovers ‘away effort’

CARDIFF were too powerful and too organised for a gutsy Llandovery side and ran out six tries to three winners in the fourth round Swalec Cup-tie at Church Bank.

Cardiff made their intention clear in the very first minute when prop and captain Andrew Lewis got the try that stunned the biggest crowd in Church Bank’s nine-year history. The lighter Llandovery side let in another three first-half tries to Irish international fly-half Paul Burke (2) and Welsh wing Simon Hill. Aled Williams and Dan Stead hit back with tries which, with a Stuart Hancox conversion, got the Towy Valley club to 15-28 at half-time.

The second half started like the first – a line-out take by Canadian international John Tait, a drive and a try for No 8 Owain Williams – and with Burke in deadly kicking form Cardiff were 35-15 up but Llandovery stuck to their guns. Scrum-half Dan Williams probed well, centre Emrys Evans put in some huge tackles and all eight forwards slugged it out toe-to-toe with the bigger Cardiff eight. But with Owain Williams, the pick of the Cardiff pack and Tait upping the pace, Cardiff eventually got their sixth try six minutes from the end when centre Leigh Davies broke over on the right.

The big crowd’s spirit was in no way dampened by a torrential downpour and there was a huge roar a minute from the end when a John Westgarth line-out take and a fine midfield break by Emrys Evans brought Llandovery’s third try, converted by Hancox. It deservedly brought respectability to their score.

Cardiff chief executive Gareth Davies had a twinkle in his eye when he praised Llandovery for playing well "away from home" – the game was originally scheduled for the Arms Park – but was the first to congratulate the wholehearted effort of the Drovers in an entertaining cup-tie.

The Times reported:

Cardiff too strong for Llandovery

CARDIFF, although far from full strength, were still too strong for Llandovery in the rearranged SWALEC Cup fourth-round tie last night. Llandovery did not succumb without a fight, however, producing enterprise and determination to score two tries before half-time after they had been shaken up by Cardiff's four tries within 25 minutes of the first half.

Paul Burke, the former Ireland fly half, was the chief architect of that opening salvo. Burke, who moved from Bristol in October, scored two and converted all four of Cardiff's first-half tries. Yet, if Cardiff thought that they would be able to capitalise both on Llandovery's tiredness in the second half and their half-time lead of 28-15, they were surprised by the tenacity of the junior club, who ply their trade in the Welsh League first division.

Cardiff, in fact, had to work hard to add further substance to their victory, with tries by Owain Williams and Leigh Davies in the second half, while Llandovery's stout defence kept Cardiff constantly at bay. Aled Williams, now of Llandovery but once of Swansea and Wales, tried hard and often to break down their defence, but, as is so often the case in this type of encounter, the telling battle was won and lost up front. Llandovery did not have the maturity or the weight to hold the more experienced Cardiff pack.

At least Llandovery had the consolation of scoring the final try, through Emrys Evans, three minutes from full time. Cardiff go on to play Abertillery in the fifth round on January 30.

The Telegraph reported:

Cardiff's quality reaps dividends

CARDIFF, although not without the odd scare, booked their place in the fifth round of the Swalec Cup with this six tries to three victory over Llandovery.

In the 24 days since the game was originally scheduled, rebel club Cardiff have experienced problems over the fitness of some of their leading players. They had to make one further change following a topsy-turvy coach journey into the heart of Carmarthenshire after their Polish No 8, Greg Kacala, was taken ill.

Fortunately for the visitors, for whom the Welsh Cup is their only chance of taking a piece of official silverware this season, there was just enough quality to earn a tie against Abertillery at the end of the month. They swept into an early lead thanks to tries from Andrew Lewis and Simon Hill and by half-time were 28-15 to the good, with Paul Burke, the Irish fly-half, helping himself to 18 points courtesy of a brace of tries and all four conversions.

But Llandovery were not overawed by the occasion and first-half tries from Aled Williams and Dan Stead kept them in touch.

Llandovery put on a brave fight on Tuesday night when they took on the might of Cardiff at a packed Church Bank. Despite a tremendous effort from the Drovers, they were eventually overpowered by Cardiff in the fourth round of the Swalec Cup.

Cardiff started the game as they meant to go on, scoring their first try in the opening minute due to the efforts of Andrew Lewis. Despite some strong defending from the home side, Cardiff quickly managed to notch up another three first-half tries to Irish international outside half Paul Burke (two) and Welsh wing Simon Hill.

However, the Drovers, realising the task that was in front of them, soon began the fight back, raising the pace of the game. A fantastic run by Daniel Stead saw the young Kiwi smash through the Cardiff defence, stealing a well-deserved try to delight the crowd. Solid work from Aled Williams, who also scored a try, and a conversion from Stuart Hancox, took the score to 15-25, giving the Towy Valley side a much-needed boost.

The second half started badly for Llandovery, as Cardiff number eight Owain Williams took advantage of a strong lineout take from Canadian international John Tait and powered over the line. And with the ever-reliable Paul Burke in top form, Cardiff were soon up 35-15.

The Drovers needed little encouragement to once again lift their game. Scrum half Dan Williams probed well, centre Emrys Evans put in some impressive tackling, and all eight forwards battled it out inch by inch with the Cardiff pack. Yet it was Cardiff who finally managed to break through and score their sixth and final try of the night when Leigh Davies powered over the line.

With a minute to go before full time, Llandovery’s tenacious persistence finally paid off when a fine midfield break by Emrys Evans, spurred on by the crowd, gave the Drovers a well-deserved try, which Hancox quickly converted. Cardiff may have taken the game but it was the Drovers who had the last laugh.

Llandovery captain Mark Lewis told the Guardian: "As far as we are concerned, we gave them a good run for their money and acquitted ourselves well. The boys played well throughout the match, and I could not have asked for more from any of them. Our game plan was to get in their faces and play everything but, at the end of the day, Cardiff’s power and pace was too much for us to handle."