That made it 18 points from the boot of the former Wales Under 18 outside half on the day and he was still wearing a pretty big smile as he ran back over half-way and saw the stadium clock showing 80 minutes.
But no sooner had it looked odds on that Cardiff would win the cup than the Drovers conjured up one final attack. It was do or die time for the first-time finalists and they somehow managed to mount one last attack that ended with giant prop Endaf Howells ploughing over for the match winning try.
That score tied the scores at 18-18 in the 87th minute and Llandovery had the title in the bag with two tries to nil. Just for good measure, Howard Thomas stepped up to bang one final nail in the Cardiff coffin with a touchline conversion.
History was made, the current Wales Sevens coach Gareth Williams, who was part of an outstanding Llandovery back row, was elevated into the Man of the Match position and Evans and his team mates went home empty handed.
Fast forward almost a decade and the now 31-year-old Evans will get his shot at revenge in the 2016 SSE Swalec Cup final when his current team, Carmarthen Quins face Llandovery in an all-Scarlets region final. Evans can’t wait!
“I still see Howard Thomas every now and then and he never fails to remind me of that day. This is my shot at redemption and it would be great for the Quins to get their name on the trophy,” said Evans.
“When I was at Cardiff we had beaten Llandovery twice that season and had a team that was full of highly promising young talent. Jamie Roberts and Rhys Gill went on to play or Wales and Tom Isaacs, Darren Allinson and James Down are all now playing regional rugby.
“After the second drop goal went over we all though the result was in the bag. The clock was showing 80 minutes and we knew we just had to keep them out after the re-start.
“Leon Andrews banged the ball downfield and from there Llandovery launched their final attack. We kept them out in one corner, but by the time they had recycled the ball they had a massive overlap on the other side and Endaf went over for the try.
“It was a sickening feeling standing behind the posts because even though it was 18-18 we all knew we’d lost on try count. I don’t think Llandovery were fully aware of the rules, but it didn’t matter in the end because Howard kicked a magnificent conversion.”
Evans had already been a winner at the Millennium Stadium with Carmarthen Quins in the Welsh Youth Cup final in 2003 and then with the Scarlets in the Regional Under 20 final against the Ospreys in a few years later. But the pain of what happened against Llandovery still lingers on to this day.
Can he finally eradicate the nightmare memories in his second final? Even though Llandovery beat the Quins in Carmarthen in the Principality Premiership recently he remains upbeat.
“We played catch and pass rugby and didn’t show them anything. It was pretty close, as all our games have been this season, and we feel we will be very, very competitive in the final,” warned Evans.
“Carmarthen is a massive rugby town and there is a great community spirit within the club. There are a lot of boys who have grown up together at the club and I’d love to be able to deliver a trophy to the club, the town, the supporters and especially the chairman, Brian Jones.
“He has put his heart and soul, and much more, into the club over the past 20 years. The reason I’m still playing is for moments like this game, but it is because of people like him that we’ve all got this opportunity.”
Capped by Wales at Under 16 and Under 18 levels, and with experience of life at both the Scarlets and Llanelli, Evans is back where it all started for him. He played youth rugby for the Quins, had three years in the senior side and moved on.
Now he is back in the third year of his second stint at the club and loving his role as one of the senior pros. Mind you, the youngsters certainly keep him on his toes.
“When I was coming through the ranks at the Scarlets I was given the chance to play in the friendlies, but never in the competitive games. This season, with Steve Jones in the coaching team at Parc y Scarlets, the younger players have been given an opportunity in a way I wasn’t,” said Evans.
“That meant Dan Jones got his chance to shine for the Scarlets and then Wales Under 20. The original plan for the season was for me to be act as back up to Dan at the Quins, but he has done so well at the Scarlets I’ve played a lot more than was envisaged.
“If Dan is available for the Cup final then I’m sure he will start – he is a very talented boy who can go as far as he wants to in the game. If not, then I guess I’ll get a shot at it.”
Evans isn’t the only player at the Quins who has played in a SSE Swalec Cup final. Lock Haydn Pugh won the title with Neath, wing Dale Ford was a winner with Llanelli against the Quins in 2010 and prop Ian Jones was in the Llanelli side that lost to Neath in 2009.
2007 Swalec Cup Final
Llandovery 20, Cardiff 18
Scorers: Llandovery: Try: V Jenkins, E Howells; Cons: H Thomas 2; Pens: H Thomas 2. Cardiff: Pens: C Evans 4; DG: C Evans 2
Llandovery: Ioan Davies; Owain Rowlands, Mike Jones, Jonathan Lewis, Viv Jenkins; Howard Thomas, Rob Walters; Phil John, Emyr Phillips, Andrew B Jones, Tom Walker, Arwel Davies (captain), Eifion Gwynne, Gareth Williams, Jon Mills
Replacements: Andrew Jones, Endaf Howells, Gareth Bennett, Steve Covington, Adrian Williams, Gruffydd Jones, Emrys Evans
YC: G Williams
Cardiff: Jamie Roberts; Elgan Jones, Richard Davies, Richard Jones, Leon Andrews; Craig Evans, Tom Isaacs; Rhys Gill, Ross Johnston, Scott Roberts, Chris Stamatakis, James Down, Gavin Lucas, Gareth Gravell (captain), Adam Powell
Replacements: Matthew Amos, Nick Hampson, Darren Allinson
YC: G Lucas
Referee: Hugh Watkins (WRU)
SSE SWALEC Finals Day Sunday 1 May
SSE SWALEC Bowl Burry Port v Taffs Well
SSE SWALEC Plate Final Bedlinog v Penallta
SSE SWALEC Cup Final Carmarthen Quins v Llandovery
Tickets for the day £10 for adults, £5 under 16s from www.wru.wales/tickets
