Shaun Connor's drop goal six minutes from time sent Newport into the semi-finals to stun the previous year's league champions. The outside-half who finished with 19 pts to overshadow Neil Jenkins whose side were 27-17 up after 47 minutes. With the wind in his favour, Connor then slotted over three penalties in the next 25 minutes before his 30 metre drop goal. Pontypridd's afternoon had started well with a penalty inside two minutes, but Newport responded with a fiercesome assault on the Pontypridd line with Ian Gough driven over and Connor converting and adding a penalty. Pontypridd were back on level terms after 32 minutes with Kevin Morgan rounding off a Dafydd James break and Jenkins converting. Pontypridd were now enjoying their best period of the half but a wild Neil Jenkins pass was intercepted by Matthew Watkins who raced 70 m for the try which enabled Newport to lead at the interval.
Newport were rudely awakened only 20 secs after the restart with Jenkins sending Wyatt racing over and worse was to come as James rounded off an attack from his own 22. But Newport refused to buckle with Connor using the wind to keep pushing the visitors back and adding three penalties, plus the coup-de-grace - a dramatic drop goal that sent the home supporters into raptures.