Led by Phil Bennett they had star names like J J Williams, Ray Gravell, Roy Bergiers and Derek Quinnell in their ranks. But Cardiff had great players of their own such as Gareth Edwards and Gareth Davies at half-back, Barry Nelmes, Alan Phillips and Gerry Wallace in the front row and a captain par excellence in Gerald Davies.
A capacity crowd of 15,000 saw the Scarlets race into a 12 points lead by half-time and their cup invincibility looked secure. Everything changed in a remarkable third quarter when the Blue and Blacks scored 19 points in 18 minutes.
A text-book tackle by Alex Finlayson on Gravell led to a try by Chris Camilleri. Gerald Davies had taken over the kicking duties and converted the try and added a penalty goal.
Then the skipper returned to his more usual role, side-stepping past several opponents to give Nelmes a scoring pass.
Cardiff were suddenly 13-12 ahead but there was more to come with a second try from Camilleri and another by Gareth Davies.
In The Observer next day, Clem Thomas wrote, “It proved not only a fabulous and passionate game but a remarkable rugby experience, for it must rate as perhaps the best club match I have ever seen”.
The teams in 1977 – Cardiff: Meurig Owen; Gerald Davies (captain), Mike Murphy, Alex Finlayson, Chris Camilleri; Gareth Davies, Gareth Edwards (John Davies); Barry Nelmes (Mike Knill), Alan Phillips, Gerry Wallace, Ian Robinson, Carl Smith, Trevor Worgan, Roger Lane, Bob Dudley-Jones
Llanelli: Clive Griffiths; J J Williams, Ray Gravell (Andy Hill), Roy Bergiers, Dai Nicholas; Phil Bennett (captain), Selwyn Williams; Charles Thomas, Howard Thomas, Barrie Llewelyn, Derek Quinnell, Phil May, Roger Hyndman, Hefin Jenkins, Steve Thomas
