Fixture

Abercarn welcomed Division A side New Tredegar to a wet and windy Welfare Ground for the first round in the Ben Francis Cup. The heavy conditions underfoot meant that the many brave spectators were not expecting to see a fast flowing game of rugby. The hosts prospects were not helped with many first choice players not being available and captain Nathan Curtis moved from his usual prop place to act as scrum-half. The game ebbed and flowed across the pitch with neither side able to take a stranglehold on the game. New Tredegar were first on the scoreboard when an Abercarn player was penalised for not releasing and the half-time score was 3 - 0. The Newts moved further ahead when they scored an excellent unconverted try early in the second half. Abercarn began to pressurise the visitors line and from a driving maul, back rower Lewis James emerged from under the pile of bodies to claim the try. Full back Jason Evans was unsuccessful with the conversion but made no mistake later with a penalty kick and the game ended eight points apiece. 

Both sides have to play Brynmawr, the Newts this Friday and Abercarn will be away on the 21 November. The winners of each pool will go into the cup quarter-finals, the runners-up will enter the plate and the third-placed team will take part in the bowl. The last-eight encounters will be played during the Six Nations with the dates for the semi-finals and final to be confirmed.