Returning to the venue where he won the first of his 11 Welsh caps 13 years ago, a 28-13 triumph over Argentina that earned him the man of the match award and a ticket to the 2011 World Cup, he started at scrum half and finished at No 8.
In both positions he was cool, calm and calculated, and his influence enabled Seven to hang on against an effervescent Dinas team who became the masters of their own downfall in the end. Twice they took the lead in a game in which they never took a backward step.
But 13 points conceded in the final 10 minutes saw them lose their grip on proceedings as the immaculate Seven outside half Antony Llewellyn kicked two penalties in quick succession from just outside the 22 before a penalty try made the game safe just before the final whistle.
Antony Llewellyn kicked 10 points for Seven Sisters
“This is the best feeling in the world, better than I thought it would be,” admitted Seven skipper Kyle Davies after lifting the trophy at the end of his 356th appearance for his home village side.
“The day has been a bit of a blur to be honest, I can’t remember getting on the bus. The fans were brilliant, and I’ve waited 18 years for this. I thought we’d never get here but we made it in the end. We had to dig deep because Dinas Powys were a very good side with some very fast backs.
“At one time I thought it might go the wrong way, but the boys came off the bench and were amazing. They were the difference in the end.”
Seven got off to a flying start with a try from their captain in the left corner which Llewellyn converted brilliantly off the touchline. Ben White replied with a penalty for Dinas but then had to leave the field.
Josh Dunleavy’s team looked to run the ball at every opportunity as they endeavoured to keep the ball in play time high to try to wear down the older and heavier Seven side. For a while it looked as though the plan was working and they hit the front through a try by livewire scrum half Rhys Jones and that full back Cian Anderson converted.
They should have scored again when left wing Tom Stout was worked clear in the Seven 22 only to see his fellow wing Matthew Williams drop an inside pass with the line at his mercy. Llewellyn saved the day for Seven with an interception in midfield as the Villagers once again mounted pressure from a tap penalty 10 metres out, but he could only reach half-way before being overhauled.
After soaking up so much pressure, Seven went back to their pack to provide the power they needed to edge back in front when hooker Jordan McKay drove over from close range. Llewellyn’s conversion made it 14-10 to Seven at the break.
Dinas Powys upped the intensity at the start of the second half and hit the front once again soon after Seven went down to 14 men with a yellow card for back row man Huw Whithey. The try in the left corner came after Dinas skipper and hooker Dunleavy chipped up the touchline over half-way to enabled Stout to race onto the ball.
The wing’s first instinct was to try to pick up the ball, but instead he hacked on, regathered from a perfect bounce and then stepped inside the covering full back Dan Newton to make it 15-14. Once more score could have put Dinas in the driving seat, but instead they conceded those 13 points from two penalties and the penalty try that also saw David Lloyd sent to the sin bin.
“We gave everything we had. We came into the game as the underdogs, although we thought we could win and we took the lead and should have pushed on from there,” said Dinas captain Dunleavy.
“We sat back, made a few mistakes and they preyed on them. Our set piece struggled, and I missed a few throws and there were a few missed jumps – that’s what happens in games like these.
“We’re a totally different side to last year and so many youngsters have come through. For them to get the chance to play at Principality Stadium is fantastic.
“Hopefully we will get back here next year. The league is won and Dinas Powys are on the way back up.”
DIVISION 5 CUP FINAL – DINAS POWYS 15 – 27 SEVEN SISTERS
Dinas Powys: Cian Anderson; Matthew Williams, Iwan Davies, Andrew Szuchnik, Tom Stout; Ben White, Rhys Jones; Mitch Jones, Josh Dunleavy (captain), Andrew O’Malia, Ryan Mullins, Joe Lewis, Connor Coyle, Owen Buckley, Luke Cooksey
Reps: Blake Powell, Mikey Jones, Shane Broad, Gavin Fish, Brett Jewell, David Lloyd, Nicky Coles, Joe Davies
Scorers: T: R Jones, T Stout; C: C Anderson; P: B WhiteSeven Sisters: Dan Norton; Tom Norton, Kyle Davies (captain), Ben Atkins, Geraint Edwards; Antony Llewellyn, Tavis Knoyle; Jamie Rowley, Jordan McKay, Jordan Roderick, Craig Kendall, Aled Hopkins, Huw Whithey, Peter O’Sullivan, Jamie Elkins
Reps: Craig Howell, David Tapping, Mike Smith, Cai Smith, Ricky Mitchell, Gavin Hooper, Dan Challenger, Ieuan Eltham
Scorers: T: K Davies, J McKay, Pen Try; C: A Llewellyn 2; P: A Llewellyn 2Go.Compare Player of the Match: Tavis Knoyle (Seven Sisters)
