Sean Gale has just the sort of pedigree that Narberth are looking for as they target Round Three opponents Bedwas for a place in the quarter-finals of the Swalec Cup.
Narberth forwards coach knows all about the magic of the cup as a player, coach and the son of former Wales captain Norman Gale.
Gale senior was part of the coaching team that led the great Llanelli team, featuring the likes of Phil Bennett and Ray Gravell, that dominated the early years of the competition during the seventies.
So it is little wonder then that the Swalec Cup should hold a special place for his son who also knows just what it takes to lift the trophy.
He was part been of the Scarlets squad that played in four finals in the space of five years between 1988 and 1992 as well as working alongside Scott Quinnell to coach the 2005 cup winners.
Now Gale is helping Narberth carve their own path in the competition. The Otters defied their Division One status by over-turning Pontypool 28-8 in the previous round and having dispatched one Premiership team with relative ease, will hoping to repeat the feat at their Lewis Lloyd Ground against Bedwas on the weekend of February 20.
“Obviously I was virtually brought up on the cup given the success my father enjoyed as a coach with Llanelli in the seventies. I loved playing in that competition a decade later and winning the trophy in 2005 was another big moment, but this is all about Narberth,” said Gale.
“It’s a great opportunity for the club and everyone involved. We may not be most people’s bet to win the trophy but we’re determined to go as far as we can.
“It’s a great draw for us to have another Premiership club at home. We have ambitions of one day being in that league so it’s great to test ourselves against the bigger clubs.
“We were confident that we could match Pontypool in the last round. We had done our homework on them and we made the most of any mistakes they made.
“Bedwas are in a similar position to Pontypool, they’re in the bottom half of the table so we know we have a chance. They’re a big and physical team but we have a few players back from injury and I know all the lads will be fired up for tie.”
Glamorgan Wanderers could argue they produced an even bigger surprise in Round Two by knocking out holders Neath at the Gnoll and have also been rewarded with a home tie, against Rumney.
Neath hopes of a hat-trick of Swalec titles, after lifting the cup in 2008 and 2009, were ended by the pin-point accuracy of Wanderers fly-half Scott Sneddon, who kicked 11 points including the conversion of Simon Rosser’s try.
That has earned the Wanderers a Cardiff derby in the Third Round after drawing Division One club Rumney at the Memorial Ground. Rumney held out to defeat league leaders Uwic 17-13.
Premiership champions Cardiff face age-old rivals Newport at Rodney Parade but only after an injury-time penalty try saved them from a disastrous loss to Bedlinog in the last round.
Meanwhile Llandovery will be wary of a similar fate when they head west to Tonmawr.
Following a weather-effected Round Two, Cross Keys will travel to either Beddau or Aberavon while Premiership high-flyers face an away tie against Pontypridd or Felinfoel.
The winners between Newbridge and Blackwood know they will be home to a team from Carmarthen once the Quins and Athletic have settled their derby while either Premiership teams Ebbw Vale or Llanelli will earn a home draw against Division One opponents Bargoed or Corus.
SWALEC Cup draw
Beddau /Aberavon v Cross Keys
Newbridge/Blackwood v Carmarthen Ath/Carmarthen Quins
Pontypridd/Felinfoel v Swansea
Tonmawr v Llandovery
Newport v Cardiff
Glamorgan Wanderers v Rumney
Ebbw Vale/Llanelli v Bargoed /Corus
Narberth v Bedwas
