With both Cwmbran and Croesyceiliog having been knocked out of their respective plate & bowl competitions it was a fitting date to contest the annual Jack Walker cup. Home team Cwmbran, with probably their strongest squad for a number of weeks ran out 27 - 13 winners, scoring a 4 try to 1 win.
Both clubs played with a lot of passion in front of a large Kings Head crowd. The Crows set their stall out early with Shane James, Ian Hayes, Jamie Edwards, Micki Witts and Gavin Phillips and Nick Bryant dominant in the scrum and lineout encounters. From one such powerful scrum, swift passing between Gavin Cook and Shaun Watkins paved the way for wing Ben Sainsbury to score a text book try. Inside half Watkins later broke free from a ruck to score another Cwmbran try, converted by Chris Wannell.Prior to the interval Wannell added a penalty for Cwmbran and Croesyceiliog's response was a brace of penalty goals.
There were a number of fiery erruptions between both the sides in this local derby, however, further tries by wing Shaun Clarke and lock Nick Bryant, one of which Wannell converted, cemented the win.
During an extraordinary amount of injury time Croesyceiliog scored a converted try following a sustained period of pressure. Both coaches will look to improve the team further prior to Saturdays last home match of the year against Caldicot.