It was a superb gutsy display by the Dragons Amateur in the mud and rain to deservedly gain their fourth win in this new competition as the Blues Amateur had to face dribing rain from the 50th minute onwards and just could not get out of their own half. Splendid driving forward play led by No.8 David Brake pushed the Blues Amateur back with Lee Williams leaping well at the lineout and the blond head of flanker Andrew Packer to the fore, though flankers Dave Hefford and Rob Downes battled hard for the Blues Amateur.
Behind the Dragons Amateur pack, former Pontypool scrum half Rhodri Jones was excellent with Jamie Howells supporting well and both right wing David James and full back Nathan Gittings having splendid games. Referee Reg Hughes of Tredegar also deserves special mention for an outstanding display in the bad conditions.
In the Blues Amateur side, Turner tried hard, but his pack were on the losing end and former Cardiff scrum half Rob Saunders found it hard to get his backs going. Only full back Gwyn Pengelly looked like breaking through. After two minutes a superb kick by Matthew Turner, brother of Cross Keys centre Gareth Turner, put the Blues Amateur ahead, but after one failure Howells placed an equalising goal after ten minutes.
Then came a superb Dragons Amateur try as Jones sent James away and his inside pass saw Howells race over and convert his try. The Blues Amateur hit back when lock Jeff Steele went over and Turner converted, but Gittins made a fine break and Jones was up brilliantly to take the pass and sent the flying James over, though a Turner penalty made it 15-13 at the break.
In the second half came a magnificent drive by the Dragons Amateur pack that saw Brake gain the touchdown as the rain drove into the faces of the Blues Amateur. Turner and Howells missed penalties before Gittings, the former Bedwas player, gathered a loose kick and raced in and out to score with Howells converting. The replacements came on and Dan Preece, in particular, did well as Howells missed two late penalty shots, but by then the Dragons Amateur had tackled their opponents out of the game.
Dragons Amateur 27 Blues Amateur 13
Dragons Amateur
Tries: N Gittings, D James, J Howells, D Brake
Cons: J Howells (2)
Pen: J Howells~
Blues Amateur
Try: J Steele
Con: M Turner
Pens: M Turner (2)
Blues Amateur: G Pengelly (Brecon); G Close (Rhydyfelin), D Palk (Beddau), N Walters (Beddau), H Loucher (Cowbridege); M Turner (Abercynon), R Saiunders (Cowbridge); O Cotton (Ynysybwl), M Hunt(Beddau), S Bullock (Llantwit Major),J Steele (Pentyrch), J Campbell (Barry), D Hefford (Abercynon), G Turner (Abercynon, capt), R Downes (Beddau)
Replacements (all used): I Blackburn (Rumney), V Rees (Fairwater), R McCarthy (Fairwater), D Lloyd (Tylorstown), L Davies (Llanharan), A McKewon (Old Illtydians), D Ince (Pentryrch)
Dragons Amateur: N Gittings (F de Lys); D James (Blackwood), D Humphries (Bargoed), P Price (Caerphilly), K Rees (Penallta); J Howells (Bargoed), R Jones (Talywain); R Jones (Bargoed), P Harrison (Caerphilly), A Lott (Bargoed, capt), J Noble (Blaina), L Williams (Croesyceiliog), J Corten (Pill), D Brake (Caerphilly), A Packer (Caerphilly)
Replacements (all used): L Pearson (Bargoed), S Powell (Penallta), M Thorogood (Pill), D Preece (Brynmawr), K Gay (Tredegar), R Palmer (Pill), L Giles (Newbridge)
Referee: Reg Hughes (Tredegar)
