Bargoed have already accounted for BP Llandarcy (37-6) and Pill Harriers (23-20) away from home in the cup this season and their reward is a plum home tie at The Park against the seven times winners.
“This is the first time we have ever met Cardiff and we are in good form, having gone 35 league games without defeat,” said Bargoed secretary Robert Butcher. “I skippered the side that played Newbridge in 1977, when we lost at home by two penalties to nil, and since then we have entertained Llanelli and Cross Keys. We even led the Scarlets at half-time.
“Our support was good then and still is. Glen Seabourne, our captain, and our coaches Stephen Barber and David Lynch all have a lot of experience. Our pack is solid and I think we will give them a good game.
“It is a great draw for us. I’d love to be playing in a game of this stature, but I’m 20 years too old these days.
“The Park will be full and it is going to be one of those very special Konica Minolta Cup occasions.”
The one consolation from the draw for Cardiff is that if they win they will have home advanatge in Round 4 against the winners of the other tie in Group 15, Bonymaen or Bryncoch.
While Cardiff will be hoping to carry the Premiership flag into the next round – the third round draw was made in groups of four clubs so the winners will know who they meet in Round 4 – there will be at least one casualty from the top division. Near neighbours Llanharan and Bridgend have been drawn against each other in Group 16 and will do battle at the Dairy Field for the second time this season. When the newly promoted Llanharan hosted their close rivals in the Premier Division in September they beat them 24-23.
The Konica Minolta Cup holders Neath begin their defence at home to Penallta, who are in their first season as a Welsh Rugby Union club. They have made a fine start to their WRU career, scoring 155 points in three cup matches to date to reach Round 3. Newport entertain Abercynon, who will remember with pride their 14-3 loss at Rodney Parade in the 1977-78 competition, while veteran Dunvant forward Paul Morris will be pleased to be going back to his old club, Llanelli, at Stradey Park.
Beddau player-coach Brett Davey will be hoping his club can win at Tenby and possibly draw one of his former clubs, Caerphilly, at home in the next round. Two Division One clubs clash at Llynfi Road, where Maesteg entertain Llangennech. Maesteg have already beaten the West Wales club 34-20 in the league this season. Victory for either club could mean a trip to Swansea in the next round.
Konica Minolta Cup Round 3 Draw
(Winners of 1st match in each Group will be at home the the winners of 2nd match in Round 4)
Group 1 – Tonmawr v Cwmllynfell; Crymych v Bedwas
Group 2 – Senghenydd v Banwen; Builth Wells v Newbridge
Group 3 – Neath v Penallta; Pembroke Dock Quins v Penclawdd
Group 4 – Pontycymmer v Llantwit Major; Newport v Abercynon
Group 5 – Tredegar Ironsides v Carmarthen Quins; Maesteg Quins v Pontyberem
Group 6 – Swansea v Treherbert; Maesteg v Llangennech
Group 7 – Bedlinog v Fleur de Lys; Llanelli v Dunvant
Group 8 – Talywain v Llandovery; Llantwit Fardre v Ynysybwl
Group 9 – Pontypool v Kidwelly; Tonyrefail v Merthyr
Group 10 – Tenby Utd v Beddau; Caerphilly v Mumbles
Group 11 – Vardre v Skewen; Narberth v Aberavon
Group 12 – Whitland v Aberdare; Blackwood v Pontypridd
Group 13 – Carmarthen Ath v Cwmbran; Ebbw Vale v Glamorgan Wdrs
Group 14 – Cross Keys v Blaina; Rumney v UWIC
Group 15 – Bargoed v Cardiff; Bonymaen v Bryncoch
Group 16 – Llanharan v Bridgend; Mountain Ash v Abercwmboi
