Abertillery, having run Newport close earlier in the season at Rodney Parade, must have fancied their chances in this tie but the challenge came to grief due to the rock-like Newport pack. The Abertillery eight were simply unable to secure sufficient quality possession and three of Newport's tries stemmed from their superiority in the scrums. Nigel Callard also had a fine game scoring 2 tries and taking over the kicking duties from the luckless Phil Steele. He also protected debutant fly-half Alan Jenkins who occasionally found the pace a little too much.

The game?s killer blow was delivered in the second period, David Pitt turning defence into attack with a splendid burst to the Abertillery 25, from the resultant scrum David Waters picked up and crashed over, Newport now leading 18-4 there was no way back for the visitors.