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Aberavon,   26 March 2005
Newport RFC Aberavon
Points
17
18
Tries
Conversions
Penalties
Drop Goals
Goals From Mark
Venue
Away
Game Category
Welsh Cup
Attendance
unknown
Referee
Huw Watkins

Anyone who believes the Konica Minolta Cup doesn't have a future should have been at Aberavon during 8 minutes of injury time. A neck injury suffered midway through the 2nd half by Aberavon prop Paul Breeze, requiring hospital treatment, caused a lengthy delay. Newport heightened the tension by registering an 84th-minute try from lock Darren Davies, converted by fly-half Dan Griffiths, but the Wizards clung on to book a place in the semi-finals for a second successive year. On similar lines to their home win over holders Neath in the last round, the Wizards almost tackled themselves to a standstill. Having gone 18pts down by the 32nd minute, the B&A?s rallied during injury time on the back of a try from their flanker Sam Waldron, but ultimately paid a high price for poor decision-making, refusing two kickable penalties on the restart. Either would have trimmed the lead to 18-6 while two other incidents will surely come back to haunt them. With eight minutes remaining, and the Wizards desperately clinging on to an 18-10 advantage, Newport opted to drill a simple penalty into the corner. A penalty and unconverted try, making it 18-18, would have been enough to take them through to the semi-finals on try-count. Even at 18-17, Newport had a golden opportunity to go for a winning drop-goal, but it wasn't on their agenda.

The Wizards, who opened the scoring on the back of a seventh-minute Jamie Davies penalty, dominated the opening half. Prop Paul Breeze almost squeezed over for a corner try, but they had to be satisfied with a snap drop-goal from centre Darren Ryan. A patient build-up led to wing Daran Griffiths crossing for a 22nd-minute try with fly-half Davies sending over a touchline conversion and Aberavon were in control once hooker Chris Wells was driven over for a 32nd-minute touchdown. The Newport revival was launched by Waldron's try, making it 18-5 at the break but during the third quarter they rued a failure to turn pressure into points. A 66th-minute try from centre Rhys Shorney held out hopes of better things to come for the huge Newport contingent.

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