Rumney : 15.T.Daly 14.L.Fox 13.G.Bowen 12.P.Collett 11.A.Carlson 10.L.White  9.C.Milton 1.C.Gale  2. N.Ritchie 3.C.Fitzpatrick (Capt)  4.M.Kelly  5.M.Peard   6.P.Bull  7.M.Way  8.D.Rees    Replacements : A.Wilson  M.Feneck  C.Miller  C.Maynard  M.Young  

Newbridge : 15.R.Powell 14.T.Watkins 13.J.Hawker 12.S.Thomas 11.L.James 10.G.Ashman  9.R.Griffiths 1.R.Morgan  2.D.Williams 3.A.Oliver / C.Seldon   4.W.Simms  5.R.Bowen (Capt)   6.R.Miles  7.M.Ackerman  8.D.Ford    Replacements :  N.Tucker  T.Edwards  R.Reynolds  D.Sullivan A.N.Other

Referee : Neil Howells, Maesteg

Scorers for Rumney : penalty try, L.White conversion

Scorers for Newbridge : R.Griffiths try, T.Watkins try, S.Thomas conversion and penalty, G.Ashman penalty

The first part of this match was mostly played in the Rumney half of the field but the home side defended efficiently and their tryline was rarely threatened. Rumney outside half Lloyd White cleared any danger with long touchfinder and full back Tom Daly made a fine counterattacking break from his own twenty two but already there were signs that unnecessary penalties were being conceded. In the twelfth minute Newbridge outside half Gavin Ashman attempted to chip kick over the defence but this was blocked by Rumney centre Paul Collett who then raced the length of the field following his own kick and was obstructed before he could touch down. Referee Neil Howells had no doubts that Collett would have scored and he headed straight for the posts to award a penalty try. White's conversion gave Rumney a 7 - 0 lead but soon the fly half had to leave the field with a leg injury, as did influential second row Mike Peard to be replaced by Chris Miller and Anthony Wilson respectively, and centre Gareth Bowen also had to leave the field with a damaged shoulder. Both sides continued to give away penalties but with Newbridge becoming more dominant, the visitors were awarded a penalty but elected to take a scrummage. From the scrum No8 Dai Ford controlled the drive to the line allowing scrum half Rhys Griffiths to ground the ball for the try. Newbridge centre Shaun Thomas converted to bring the sides level and although the home forwards worked hard to gain territory, a late tackle resulted in another penalty which Ashman put over for a half time scoreline of Rumney 7 Newbridge 10.

The visitors changed into their red alternative strip as the rain and heavy playing surface made for increasingly difficult handling conditions and errors were common from both sides. For Rumney No8 Dyfrig Rees controlled the back of the scrum and set off on characteristic breaks, flankers Mathew Way and Paul Bull battled hard and props Charlie Gale and Craig Fitzpatrick, hookers Neal Ritchie and Mike Feneck, and second rows Michael Kelly and Wilson were tireless against the heavier opposition. Miller was finding a number of openings and breaching the visitors' defences but he incurred Mr Howell's wrath and was sin binned, and in the the sixty eighth minute Thomas slotted another penalty to stretch Newbridge's lead to 7 - 13. As the rain continued to fall the greasy ball became ever more difficult to control but Rumney threequarters Chris Milton, Lewis Fox and Andrew Carlson did well with the little possession they had, as did replacement forwards Calvin Maynard and Michael Young, but a late kick and rush along the touchline saw Newbridge winger Thomas Watkins slide in at the corner, giving his side a decisive final tally of 7 - 18.