In a match dominated by high winds at Llanidloes on May Day, Aberystwyth Athletic secured the Mid Wales Cup to complete the League and Cup double for the season. The combatants had met each other in a League match at Plascrug just a couple of weeks ago, Aber winning on that occasion. But this was a Cup Final, and so it proved, bith sides putting on gritty performances in a keenly contested match.

Both defences held firm as penalties were exchanged in the first half hour; Aber’s Gwion Phillips struck the upright with his first attempt before Newtown full back Gareth Roberts opened the scoring with a 28 metre kick in the 24^th minute. Phillips immediately pegged that back with a similar kick at the other end of the field. Roberts got another chance in the 35^th minute when referee Simon Morgan did not take kindly to comments from the Aber players and Newtown were back in front with a 35 metre kick. As half time approached Aber were awarded a penalty wide out, 10 metres from the Newtown line; they opted for a lineout and clean ball allowed them to get to the tryline, Eifion Hughes first desperately stopped short before co-flanker Lee Evans got the touch down. Phillips was again unlucky to hit the upright but Aber were ahead for the first time and they took the slender 8-6 margin into the break.

Five minutes into the second half Newtown struck back when Roberts landed a third penalty from 25 metres and the one point advantage for his team persisted until the 66^th minute. Phillips made no mistake from 20 metres and Aber were 11-9 up as the game entered the final quarter.

The tight stalemate was broken in the 76^th minute when Aber’s Steffan Nutting chased a speculative kick form 35 metres out towards the tryline. The nippy number eight beat three Newtown defenders in the chase and touched down in the right corner. A superb touchline conversion from Phillips gave Aber an 18-9 advantage and the game seemed over. But Newtown immediately retaliated and reached the Aber 22. When the ball reached Newtown’s Greg Kiely Aber were caught napping as a gap opened for the replacement to score under the posts. Roberts converted to reduce the gap to 2 points. Play was tight after the restart but Aber conceded a penalty 45 metres out. With full time approaching Roberts went for goal, but the wind proved too difficult to control. Aber cleared to the 22, waiting for that final whistle from Mr Morgan. Nut there was adjudged to be time for a lineout. Aber hearts sank when they were penalise for from that play and the whole match rested on Roberts as he placed the ball to take a 25 metre penalty. On balance it would have been a sickening travesty if Newtown had managed to steal it then, but when the wind took the ball across the face of the posts Aber supporters jumped for joy. When the ball was made dead the final whistle blew and Aberystwyth Athletic had lifted the Cup to add to their League title.

Alan Jones