A turnover of possession at a ruck gave Pontypridd an early boost, but still pinned back in their own half for most of the first five minutes, in the face of a spirited Llanelli offensive. The Black and White defenders were showing aggression in their tackling, and needed to do so under concerted pressure. Following up on a series of forward drives, Ponty at last cut loose amongst the backs, to take play right up to their opponents’ line with the first direct attack of the game.

With Jason Pocock on as temporary replacement for Darren Berry, Ponty were sniping away at possession, then bursting upfield with a slick passing move, the ball spilled with the try line begging, but play called back for a penalty which outside half Dai Flanagan converted, with ten minutes gone. Llanelli fly half Tomos Marks was in turn off target with a speculative drop goal, before a siege gun clearance kick from Morgan Stoddart gave Ponty relief from their defensive duties.

The game was so far fast and furious, played in warm conditions, and with errors made by both sides to add to the excitement. Llanelli once more enjoyed a long period camped in the Ponty half, but the Black and Whites defensive lines holding firm. The Scarlets went unrewarded for all their efforts, outside half Marks again wide of the mark, this time with a penalty attempt. Laying claim to a share of possession, Ponty worked their way back into contention, a neat chip kick from Dai Flanagan taking them up to their opponents’ line, the Ponty outside half then following up with a successful penalty shot at goal.

Ponty now seemed to be gaining control of a closely contested final tie, able to soak up Llanelli’s attacks, and always looking menacing on the counter offensive, with a huge vocal support to spur them on. A series of hard drives by Llanelli were bottled up by a hard working Ponty defence, , the tension of the big occasion simmering away with the odd fracas breaking out amongst the forwards. With a half hour gone, Ponty continued to defend their territory, and grateful for the clearing kicks of full back Morgan Stoddart to raise the Scarlet siege. Llanelli once more drove into the Pontypridd twenty-two, the Valleys team putting their bodies on the line in defence, but conceding a penalty which Scarlets outside half Tomos Marks converted. The long distance line kicking of full back Lee Byrne once more took Llanelli upfield, a scramble for the loose ball following a line out allowing prop David Maddocks to pounce for a try, edging Llanelli into an interval lead of 6 pts to 8.

Ponty made a determined start to the second half, forging a path upfield, but Dai Flanagan off target with a kickable penalty. An intelligent chip kick from scrum half Gareth Jones kept up the Ponty momentum, the Valleys team laying siege to the Llanelli line but once more foiled by a knock on at the crucial juncture. Pontypridd were now camped in their opponents’ half, enjoying a dominance of territory and possession but unable to apply the killer touch required for a score. Getting the better of the dogfight for the ball in the loose, Ponty kept pounding away at the Llanelli line, their opponents’ infringing allowing Dai Flanagan to coolly stroke over a penalty with fifty-six minutes gone.

A snap offensive straight from the restart led by winger Richard Fussell found Dafydd Lockyer up in support to cross for a dramatic touchdown, hoisting Ponty into a 14 pts to 8 lead. The Valley Commandos found a new lease of life, harassing the Scarlets off the ball, driving on with serious intent, their play well controlled by outside half Flanagan, and backed up by a vociferous support from the stands. Play was now going in only one direction, and that was Ponty’s way, their total dominance only undone by the odd handling error. Forced on the back foot, Llanelli continued to infringe and were duly punished by another Dai Flanagan penalty which just crept over the cross bar, with sixty-six minutes gone.

A superb piece of vision from Dai Flanagan saw the Ponty fly half pick up from the base of a ruck and hoist a perfect cross kick which winger Darren Berry gathered to cross for a try, the score converted from in front of the posts by Flanagan. A thrilling cup final continued apace as Llanelli struck back, a kick and chase resulting in a try scored by replacement Neil Boobyer. With Gerald Cox now on for Stuart Williams, the game remained keenly contested, with some long and energy sapping phases of attack and counter attack. Llanelli continued to pressurise what looked to be a tiring Ponty defence, an overlap created for lock Bryn Griffiths to gallop over for a try.

With a minute remaining on the clock, the cup final was building up to a tense finale, Llanelli ploughing forwards into a desperate Ponty defence, the Valleys team putting body and soul into their tackles to keep their line intact. A series of five metre scrums kept up the Llanelli siege, scrum half Chris McDonald sniping over for a crucial try, the conversion from Tomos Marks edging the West Wales team into a one point lead. An injury time double substitution saw Ben Phillips coming on for Duane Goodfield and Jason Pocock for Darren Berry, as Ponty kept the ball in hand, going all out for a score to salvage the game. All eventually hung on a penalty awarded at mid distance, and at an angle to the posts, but Dai Flanagan’s effort drifting agonizingly wide of the mark.

A gallant cup final performance by Pontypridd had seen them dramatically snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, denied the spoils that could have been theirs to take, going down by 24 pts to 25.

Pontypridd:

15.Morgan Stoddart. 14.Darren Berry (Jason Pocock). 13.Tom Riley. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Richard Fussell. 10.Dai Flanagan. 9.Gareth Jones.

1.Stuart Williams (Gerald Cox). 2.Duane Goodfield (Ben Phillips). 3.Ryan Harford. 4.Chris Martenko. 5.Grant Harrington. 6.Wayne O’Connor. 7.Rhys Shellard. 8.Dan Godfrey – cpt.

Konica Minolta man of the match – Dai Flanagan.