A typical Welsh cup tie is the best way to describe a match that saw Division 6 South-East champions Hafodyrynys defeat Division 6 East champions Abertysswg 22-12 at Blackwood to claim the Worthington Gwent & District Cup.
Though Hafodyrnys, beaten only by Cardiff Medicals in the SWALEC Bowl this season, scored 4-0 on try-count over Abertysswg, there was little between two strong sides.
The outstanding figures for the winners were their back row of skipper David Tovey and flankers Gavin Davies and Richard Phelps, while brothers Richard and Matthew Theophilus combined smartly at half back for the losers.
Tovey, the former Cross Keys player, scored two hard driving tries, while Davies gained all the hard yards and when fly half Richard Theophilus was yellow-carded, three tries were scored.
The cup was settled, when at 15-12 and three tries to four penalties, the amazing full back Robert Smith scored his 57th try of the season with a mazy run that was a replica of his score 12 months earlier.
Hafodyrynys, runners-up in 2009 and 2010, were down to penalties by Richard Theophilus in 12 and 31 minutes, but when he was carded, Tovey’s drive set up a try for lock Gavin Hickey and then the skipper himself scored just on the break.
Within a minute of the restart Tovey smashed his way over after his own quick tap-kick, but the smart Theophilus returned to claw back penalties in 46 and 61 minutes, awarded by an excellent referee, Mark Butcher of nearby Oakdale.
It was still in doubt right to the 78th minute when Smith, superbly marked out of the game by Abertysswg captain Matthew Green and his team, gathered and beat man after man to score with centre Adam Jones converting.
Tovey, a huge figure in the win, received the Cyrus Davies Cup from Molson Coors business manager Barry Sandilands.
Scorers: Hafodyrynys – Tries: D Tovey 2, G Hickey, R Smith. Con: A Jones.
Abertysswg – Pens: R Theophilus 4.
