The SWALEC Cup is the Welsh rugby’s most prestigious knock-out tournament – and tomorrow (Saturday) Carmarthen Quins will create a slice of history by appearing in the showpiece match for the first time.
By contrast, Llanelli are the most successful club in the history of the competition and through to their 20th tournament final where they will be chasing a record 14th title.
In the semi-finals Llanelli beat Cardiff 46-25 while Carmarthen Quins overcame Pontypridd 41-12 to create that significant slice of history for themselves.
And in what promises to be a true festival and celebration of rugby that contest will be the climax of an afternoon that will see the three finals of the SWALEC knock-out tournaments that initially embraced all 232 WRU member clubs.
In addition to Carmarthen Quins and Llanelli, Kenfig Hill, Maesteg, Abercarn and Trebanos also qualified for the finals and the day will kick-off with the SWALEC Bowl final, Abercarn earning their place with a 22-17 semi-final win over Pontardawe while Trebanos won 28-26 on the road at Senghenydd.
The second match will be the SWALEC Plate final with Kenfig Hill, 19-12 winners against Llantwit Fardre, and Maesteg, who beat Loughor 31-29, battling it out for the silverware.
In 1993 SWALEC, a leading energy supplier in Wales and Scotland, became the headline sponsor of the Cup competition and was proud to provide support and commitment to grassroots rugby up to 1999.
SWALEC returned as title sponsor last season and following the introduction of the SWALEC Plate and Bowl that format was revised this season with the Premier and SWALEC Welsh National League Division One teams taking part in the SWALEC Cup, the SWALEC Welsh National League Division Two and Three clubs in the SWALEC Plate and the SWALEC Welsh National League Division Four, Five and Six clubs in the SWALEC Bowl.
THE 2010 SWALEC FINALS
1.00pm – SWALEC Bowl – Abercarn v Trebanos
3.30pm – SWALEC Plate – Kenfig Hill v Maesteg
6.00pm – SWALEC Cup – Carmarthen Quins v Llanelli
SWALEC finalists look forward to Millennium Magic
The first ever all-Scarlets SWALEC Cup final between 13-times Cup winners Llanelli and first timers Carmarthen Quins takes place at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday with both sides desperate to lift the most prestigious trophy in Welsh club rugby.
And despite Carmarthen Quins defying all the odds in reaching the final in their first season back in the Principality Premiership, they insist they are determined to go all way and bring the Cup back to Carmarthen.
Team manager Steffan Thomas said, “You have to remember that this time last year we were in Division 1 West, so we are ecstatic to reach the final in our first season back in the Principality Premiership. Reaching a televised final has put us firmly back on the rugby map and no one can take being Welsh Cup finalists away from us. But although I have huge respect for Llanelli, I see no reason why we can’t go all the way.
“Getting to the final has given the club a boost, but we want to win it. That’s when we can start talking about achievement.”
Captain Tristan Davies, who has experienced Cup final heartache once before with Neath when they lost to Newport in 2001, is also determined to achieve a better result this time around. “I have said to the boys that today will go in a blink of an eye, so they should savour every minute, days like this don’t come along too often. As we’ve seen in our cup run so far, these games are often won or lost on small margins so although we may be underdogs, there is no reason we shouldn’t expect to win on Saturday.”
And while the pressure is on Llanelli to live up to their cup king status, Llanelli Head of Rugby Anthony Buchanan insists his players are not short of motivation for this final showdown against their fellow Scarlets region Premiership rivals.
Buchanan, who has experienced three Cup finals as a player and 11 as part of the team management said, “We always value the SWALEC Cup as a very important part of the Welsh rugby calendar. In the semi-professional world, there is still a massive ambition to reach the final. But it’s not just about getting to the final now, it’s about winning it as well.”
Captain Craig Hawkins, who has experienced both the highs and lows of SWALEC cup finals with Llanelli added, “I don’t think the Cup has lost much of its prestige. Talk to all of the Premiership clubs and they all still want to win it, and I’m sure it will be a great battle on Saturday between us and the Quins. We might have a big history in the Cup but we have a lot of young players who have not experienced it before. It’ll be a big day for both clubs.”
Carmarthen Quins team: Anthony Rees; Richard Carter, Andrew Banfield, Tristan Davies (capt), Jamie Davies; Gareth Cull, Sililo Martens; Andrew Beaujean, Rich Wilkes, Kevin Jones, Gavin Evans, Martin Morgan, Andrew Thomas, Ellis Lloyd, Sione Timani.
Replacements: Math Monaghan, Craig Kelly, Simon Gardiner, Chris Jones, Gareth Williams, Ricky Richards, James Garland
Llanelli team: Daniel Newton; Dale Ford, Nick Reynolds, Scott Williams, Chris Keenan; Steve Shingler, Gareth Davies; Shaun Hopkins, Craig Hawkins (capt), Jamie Corsi, Joel Galley, Nathan White, Adam Powell, Duane Eager, Ben Morgan
Replacements: Ceri Jones, Rhys Lawrence, Edward Siggery, Steffan Phillips, Justin James, Steve Martin, Johnny Lewis
SWALEC Plate – Kenfig Hill v Maesteg (3.30pm)
Maesteg stalwart Kevin Ellis is hoping to put 20 years of pain behind him if he steps off the bench and out onto the Millennium Stadium pitch in the SWALEC Plate final against Kenfig Hill.
In 1990, Ellis was in the losing Bridgend side which lost the final of the Schweppes Cup against Neath.
“It’s quite ironic that it’s exactly 20 years since that game,” said the 44-year-old. “I only hope that the outcome is not the same. It was a great day and I’m sure Saturday will be every bit as good.
“We tied up the Division Two title by beating Loughor last week and the town has been buzzing ever since we made it through to the final. The boys have worked really hard this season and it would put the icing on the cake if we could come out on top.”
Standing in their way is Division Three South side, Kenfig Hill.
Club president Alan Phillips, who is Wales Team Manager, is hoping his side can take their club form into the Plate final – they’ve lost just four league games all season.
“It’s a great club and one that is still providing rugby for many, many youngsters in the community. Today will be a special day for all of those who have worked so hard in pursuit of this.
“Win or lose, they will have a great day out. I just hope it’s a win!”
Kenfig Hill team: Ray Evans; Chris Tossell, Nicky Morgan, Rhodri Clark (capt), Kyle Evans; Nicky Giles, Mark Jenkins; Nigel Evans, Lee Williams, Gavin Jenkins, Jon Thomas, Thomas Maund, Matthew Bater, Scott Waller, Derwyn Rees
Replacements: Tom Briggs, Gareth Lewis, Steve Shalders, David Quinn, Gareth Harvey, Gavin Reffell, Neil Billingham
Maesteg team: Gareth Goodridge, Jon Phillips, Robbie Morris, Paul Smith, Aled Davies; Robert Evans, Liam Healey; Gareth Edwards (capt), Shaun Cleary, Lyndon Davies, Ross Powell, Paul Clapham, Geraint Williams, Ben Howe, Ryan Turner
Replacements: Dean Ronan, Steve Tremlett, Owen Watkins, Scott Hicks, Kevin Ellis, Chris Jones, Chris Owen
SWALEC Bowl – Trebanos v Abercarn (1.00pm)
Both teams – Trebanos and Abercarn – in the SWALEC Bowl final are promising a feast of running rugby.
Division Four East side Abercarn have come through some tight encounters to reach the final, but honorary secretary Andrew Chetland is confident his side can claim the silverware.
“We’ve had some tight games, Bridgend Sports in the quarter-final was tough and we did well to come away with a 13-9 win, while Pontardawe in the semi-finals was a great cup tie which we edged 22-17. Now we’re at the Millennium Stadium, which is incredible.
“We have never played Trebanos before in my memory, but we know they score a lot of tires and like to play running rugby. We’ll try to play in a similar fashion so it should make for an entertaining game for the fans.”
Trebanos ‘historian’ Clive Penhale says that reaching the ‘Millennium Stadium is a dream come true.’
“We’re only a small mining village but we have produced some top internationals in our time, like Arwel Thomas, Robert Jones and Bleddyn Bowen,” he added.
The Division Four South West side is at the heart of the community, Penhale, adding: “Most of the players have been with us since the juniors and they turn out for the love of the club. The club is at the heart of the village and everyone is involved in the rugby club in some way. I’d love to win but if Abercarn beat us they’ll have deserved it. Whatever the result, it won’t detract from the memories of a very special day in our history.”
Abercarn team: Jason Evans, Scott Llewellyn, Jack Davies, Nicky Lloyd, Rhys Isles; Gethin Paterson, Karl Kinsey; Ryan Hodges, Aaron Davies, Chris Kinsey, Gareth Peebles (capt), Shane Reece, Chris Rogers, Matthew Harper, Ben James
Replacements: Ryan Anderson, Tim Jones, Dean Johnson, Jason Noakes, Owen Glastonbury, Ben Farley, Fin Corcoran
Trebanos team: Cerith Edwards; Andrew Penhale, Rhodri Thomas (capt), Gareth Hopkins, Jordan Hopkins; Nick Damjanovic, Kristian Jones; Rhys Thomas, Rhys Thomas, Chris Balfe, James Erasmus, Bradley Owens, Rhys Carney, Malcolm Whiteman, Luke Davies
Replacements: Chris Harris, David Davies, Steve Morgan, Amer Hussain, Tom Carney, Rhys Jones, Steve Williams
THE KNOCK-OUT ROLL OF HONOUR
WRU CHALLENGE CUP
1972 Neath, 1973 Llanelli, 1974 Llanelli, 1975 Llanelli, 1976 Llanelli, 1997 Newport
SCHWEPPES CUP
1978 Swansea, 1979 Bridgend, 1980 Bridgend, 1981 Cardiff, 1982 Cardiff, 1983 Pontypool, 1984 Cardiff, 1985 Llanelli, 1986 Cardiff, 1987 Cardiff, 1988 Llanelli, 1989 Llanelli, 1990 Neath, 1991 Llanelli, 1992 Llanelli
SWALEC CUP
1993 Llanelli, 1994 Cardiff, 1995 Swansea, 1996 Pontypridd, 1997 Cardiff, 1998 Llanelli, 1999 Swansea
WRU CHALLENGE CUP
2000 Llanelli
PRINCIPALITY CUP
2001 Newport, 2002 Pontypridd, 2003 Llanelli
KONICA MINOLTA CUP
2004 Neath, 2005 Llanelli, 2006 Pontypridd, 2007 Llandovery, 2008 Neath
