Newport were the only Gwent team to make the quarter-finals with Cross Keys, Pontypool and Bedwas bowing out. Newport were not at their best, conceding too many turnovers, dropping too many passes and generally playing at too leisurely a tempo. It was Wanderers' second exit from the competition, having lost to Ebbw Vale in Rd 3 before reprieved because of Ebbw Vale fielding an ineligible player. Clever outside-half Lee Mullane was always trying things, right wing Jamie Henthorne showed pace, the back row worked tirelessly and they did well in the scrums. However they could hardly win a lineout because of the monopoly of Newport's Ben Thompson and Rhys Jones. They could not halt Newport when they did manage to put their moves together. Experienced centre Rhys Shorney was Newport's catalyst, setting up more than one try with his breaks and power, though by the end he tended to go it alone too often. Scrum-half James Ireland, out for much of the season through injury but on the bench for the Newport Gwent Dragons against Ulster the night before, also had a fine game and set up tries with his long cut-out passes. While hooker Andrew Brown was lively and pulled off some vital tackles. Newport's 8 tries were scored by eight different players, a measure of their 15-man approach. The team have targeted winning the cup and a top-three league spot this season though the league objective is hampered by the loss of three points for not fulfilling the Llandovery fixture, a decision they are not now contesting.
Daniel Griffiths, on a rare appearance at full back, caught a clearance 40 yds out, and with nowhere to go, ran left, then right and then straight down the middle for an amazing try. Twelve minutes later wing Gareth Chapman scored, but when Mullane and flanker Anthony Corsi set up a converted try for centre Dai Willey, the Wanderers trailed only 12-7 with four minutes of the 1st half remaining. Within those four minutes Shorney set up tries for Brown and outside-half Ricky Williams, and at 22-7 at the interval there was no way back for the Cardiff outfit, beaten only on try count after a 10-10 draw in their only other cup game against Newport, also at Rodney Parade, 12 years ago.
Within eight minutes of the restart flanker Paul Williams and Shorney had crossed for converted tries after flowing movements, and replacement centre Richard Payne added the seventh, Wanderers prop Mark O'Leary replying, before fittingly skipper Matthew Veater picked up a pass off his bootlaces to help Newport to the half-century mark.