Newbridge had to come from behind to claim the Worthington’s Ben Francis Cup final against Fleur de Lys with a hard fought 16-12 victory.
A dour, hard-contested final saw Division Three East winners Fleur de Lys lead their Division One East rivals 4-3 on penalties and 12-9 on the board after 43 minutes of the second half, when the game turned.
Almost everyone had hoped a try would come, but Newbridge had thrown away several huge overlaps until their former fly half Richard Powell, on permit from host club Blackwood, threw a long ball out.
Centre Dan Phillips, who had not scored in Newbridge’s 22 league games, ran into it and took route one straight between the uprights. Even though many thought it was his co-centre Geraint Langdon, it was in fact, Phillips, who scored. (They had changed numbers). The honest Langdon laughed: “Yes, it was me – I wish!”
Powell converted for 16-12, but the game continued and excitement mounted as Fleur staged a last and superb assault.
After the forwards had twice turned it over, the ball went out, but was knocked on and referee Hugh David called time.
Played in sun and rain, hot then cold, Fleur fly half Paul Emmanueli, later selected by Ken Hewitt of the WRU as man of the match, kicked 23rd and 30th-minute penalties, but Powell upstaged him with similar shots in the 25th and 38th-minutes and added a third eight minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Emmanueli levelled in 44 minutes and put ‘Flower’ ahead in 50 minutes, but both kickers went close with long-range efforts. The Fleur pack did splendidly with flanker Nicky Tucker to the fore along with another fomer Newbridge player in veteran lock Wayne Sims.
It was battled mostly at forward with Newbridge’s Dragons Academy locks Cameron Regan and Rhyddian Wilson taking second best to Sims and Owen Swift.
Newbridge brought on veteran wing Lenny Woodard after 60 minutes. With 150 league tries, Woodard is the highest-ever scorer of league tries in Welsh rugby. He appeared with both arms damaged and said: “I will be dropping division to be player-coach of Cwmbran next season.”
Scorers: Newbridge: Try – Dan Phillips. Con – Richard Powell. Pens – Richard Powell (3).
Fleur de Lys: – Pens – Paul Emmanueli (4)
