Newport's fighting spirit earned them a second succesive cup final appearace. Although Newport scored the only two tries of the game, they had to withstand tremendous Aberavon pressure for long periods, but they stuck to their task magnificently. The pack battled magnificently on the paddy-field like Cardiff ground, and never gave an inch in the gruelling mud splattered forward exchanges, the game started in a fierce thunderstorm leaving the pitch flooded.

Gareth Evans was the Newport hero, he intercepted a pass and raced 60yds for his first try which visibly shook Aberavon. Then Evans was on hand to wrap up the match in style for Newport racing 35yds for an injury time corner try. As expected the match centered on the forward struggle, with both pairs of halfbacks using almost all their possession with tactical kicking. As a spectacle the match was not a classic, but Newport knew what they had to do, and contain a fiery Aberavon pack and they did just that and reached their second successive final.