Riverside Park, Rumney Saturday 22nd January 2000. K.O. 2.30 pm
Scorers for Rumney : Simon
Enoch 2 tries, Christian Wills try, Simon Davies conversion
Scorers for Cardiff : Gareth Thomas try, Simon Hill 3 tries, Owain
Williams try, Paul Burke try and 6 cons and 3 pens, Ryan Powell
try, Jamie Robinson try, Craig Morgan try, Steve Moore try, Gary
Powell try
Referee : David Davies. Touch judges : Reg Hughes, David Carter.
Cardiff took the field at Riverside Park with 11 international players including 8 Welsh internationals, and playing with a strong wind on their backs opened the scoring with 2 Paul Burke penalties. After nine minutes they were rocked when Rumney hit back and took the lead through a try by centre Simon Enoch which was converted by outside half Simon Davies. The three thousand strong crowd then saw Cardiff reply with a Gareth Thomas touchdown following a brilliant break by skipper Mike Rayer. Eighteen minutes into the game and Cardiff went further ahead with a Simon Hill try and shortly afterwards Owain Williams scored under the posts after another Mike Rayer break. There were two more Cardiff tries before half time, scored by Paul Burke and Jamie Robinson, but the half closed with another stunning try from the Rumney backs - following a powerful drive by captain Glenn George, Simon Davies looped in midfield to put full back Christian Wills over. The score at the interval was Rumney 12 Cardiff 44.
Liam Botham replaced Gareth Thomas in the Cardiff side and early in the second half they increased their lead with tries from Craig Morgan, Steve Moore, Gary Powell and another for Simon Hill. Cardiff had been unable to contain Rumney second row Michael Peard all afternoon and in the seventy seventh minute, following good lineout possession gained by Peard, Simon Davies set up Simon Enoch to slice through and score the game's finest try under the Cardiff posts. In injury time Simon Hill completed his hat trick to give Cardiff an away tie at Newport in the seventh round.
Glenn George, Captain Rumney RFC : "I last played against Cardiff in 1993. The game is now light years beyond that standard. Professionalism has meant that the bigger clubs have made fantastic developments in fitness and skill levels".
Les Brown, Coach Rumney RFC : "At half time we were staring down the barrel of a gun. The boys deserve full credit for their resilience. They acquitted themselves admirably in the second half".
Lynn Howells, Coach Cardiff RFC : "We put together some very fine moves and Rumney also scored three good tries".
Steve Ford, Coach Rumney RFC : "Cardiff were just too strong, but we gave it our best effort. I only wish I'd been playing today. I had a back operation six months ago and I hope to return in about six weeks".
Owain Williams, Cardiff RFC : "A good, clean game".
