Rumney : 15.P.O'Neill 14.H.Amadife 13.P.Niblett 12.S.McIntyre 11.P.Corcoran 10.A.Harding (Capt) 9.C.Miller 1.M.Gee 2.M.Feneck  3.D.Bartlett  4.C.Jones  5.M.Kelly  6.N.Coles 7.W.Murphy 8.C.Barker  Replacements : P.Tennet  P.Bull  N.Ritchie B.Morris M.Harrington I.McIntyre A.Jones

Scorers for Rumney : P.Niblett try, M.Kelly 3 tries, M.Feneck try, C.Barker try, A.Harding 2 penalties and 2 conversions

Scorers for Carmarthen Athletic : K.Bassett try, R.Rees 2 tries, J.Howells penalty and conversion

When Carmarthen Athletic started the game with an onslaught of forward attacks deep in the Rumney twenty two, there was little indication of the spectacular six try response that the home side would soon produce. Having weathered the initial pounding without conceding any points, Rumney outside half Adam Harding started to drive the opposition back through accurate line kicking, but the visitors still tended to dominate up front and repeatedly returned play into the Rumney half. After ten minutes one of these attacks resulted in a Rumney twenty two drop out - flanker Wayne Murphy surprised everyone with a quick tap and feed to Harding. The fly half linked with Stuart McIntyre who passed to co-centre Paul Niblett on half way and Niblett was put clear and raced fifty metres for a remarkable try. Carmarthen came back with more forward pressure but with second row Michael Kelly gaining good possession in the lines out, Harding was again able to drive play back down field and in the eighteenth minute landed a successful penalty to put his side 8 - 0 ahead. Carmarthen continued to exert forward pressure but now the Rumney pack was getting on equal terms, with No8 Carl Barker making penetrating breaks and forcing the visitors to concede penalties. Harding's second penalty, after thirty four minutes, increased the lead to 11 - 0 and within minutes Kelly had intercepted a loose Carmarthen pass to sprint eighty metres and score under the sticks. The conversion gave Rumney a commanding 18 - 0 lead but as the interval approached Carmarthen set up another forward position and left wing Kevin Bassett finished off a good blindside move with a try in the corner, bringing the half to a close with the score standing at 18 - 5.

Two minutes into the second half Kelly took clean lineout ball and from the resulting forward drive Barker crossed for a try but Carmarthen's reply was rapid when within minutes scrum half Richard Rees dummied his way through to touchdown at the posts for a converted try and a score of 23 - 12. Visiting outside half Julian Howells also kicked a penalty to bring the scores even closer but in the fifty second minute a well rehearsed set move on the Carmarthen five metre line resulted in powerful flanker Neil Coles breaching the defence and popping the ball up for Kelly to score his second try. With fifteen minutes left on the clock Rumney created the try of the match - Murphy gathered at the back of a line out on his own twenty two and fed scrum half Chris Miller, the ball flew across the three quarters and right wing Henry Amafide left two defenders grasping thin air as tore upfield and passed inside to full back Paddy O'Neill. When O'Neill was finally tackled, Amafide was again there to set up the maul from which the ball was swung wide to lock Chris Jones. Jones gathered well, sidestepped and sent out a fine long pass which was collected on the left wing by hooker Michael Feneck who crossed for the try. Five minutes from full time Kelly made another crucial interception and scored his third try, Harding's conversion bringing the scores to 40 - 15. In injury time the elusive Rees caught Rumney unawares and grabbed a second try from a close range tapped penalty, resulting in a final score of 40 - 20.

Shaun Lee, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "A very good performance from the squad who played with confidence and style producing a brand of very entertaining rugby. The first quarter we were put under great pressure but defended very well, we then turned defence into offence and caught the opposition out with a well worked try. As the game progressed the Rumney pack grew in confidence which allowed us a good platform to work from. The opposition showed why they are at the top end of the league table as they battled to keep in the game. The Rumney squad kept to the game plan and fully deserved this win, it is very pleasing to see this young squad rewarded for all the hard work they are putting into their game. The Man of the Match award could have been awarded to a number of players, the final recipient, for his outstanding all-round display, being second row Michael Kelly."

Jim O'Brien, Rugby Secretary Rumney RFC : "Without doubt the best performance of the season. There was tremendous spirit with the backs and forwards playing for each other and Michael Kelly, Wayne Murphy, Neil Coles and Chris Miller putting in outstanding performances."

Paddy O'Neill, fullback Rumney 1st XV : "We were a bit slow at the start and then we speeded it up and established a solid platform up front. The dry pitch suited us and we did manage to spread it wide a few times. Michael Kelly was exceptional today."

Michael Kelly, lock Rumney 1st XV : "This was a good game and I got a bit of luck with the tries, I won't forget my eighty metre sprint when Carmarthen threw a long pass and I intercepted. I wondered who was in support but I kept going and finished with my roly poly. The second try came from good forward play and I just had to fall over the line, and the third was another interception when the Carmarthen outside half tried a chip over - Paul Niblett said 'Take the outside half' and it worked out well ! Neil Coles and Chris Jones were outstanding today."

Michael Kelly