Cambrian Training Mid Wales Cup Final - Report and picture by Gary Williams, Oval Zone Rugby.
Following the excitement of the earlier Mid Wales Shield Final it was now the turn of Llanidloes and COBRA to serve up another thriller for the large crowd which had gathered at Llanidloes RFC.
These sides, who played each other four times last season, certainly know each other’s strengths and both expected, and weren’t disappointed, an eighty minute arm wrestle.
COBRA started brightly, testing the Llani defence and had the opportunity to open the scoring with a penalty award after seven minutes. Wil Worthington, COBRA number ten, just failing on this occasion.
Fifteen minutes in and Llanidloes, after some good pressure, were awarded a penalty which Adam Price converted to give a 3-0 lead. Five minutes later, Llani were rewarded for their endeavour again when Price scored again, another penalty to double their lead to 6-0.
It took some big hits by both defences to prevent any tries being scored and the game was played mainly in the middle of the field as both sides looked for that all-important gap to break through.
With half time a minute away, COBRA reduced the deficit with a successful penalty by Wil Worthington. Despite the low scoring it had been an entertaining half.
Half time: Llanidloes 6 v COBRA 3
COBRA started the second period brightly and it took just two minutes for them to draw level when Worthington scored his second penalty to make it 6-6.
As the half progressed and the tension grew, both sides spurned good try scoring opportunities as their pre-season rustiness was evident. With defences on top, it looked as though it would be the goal kickers who would decide the outcome of this fascinating tussle.
The Llani faithful must have thought that local favourite Price had won it for them when he calmly scored his third penalty of the game to give a 9-6 lead and less than five minutes to go.
COBRA as expected, now threw everything at Llani, who were being roared on by their local crowd, as they sought a score of any sort. With excellent referee, Carl Hyde, glancing at his watch, a break from the base of the scrum by flanker Lee Hughes, led to the touchdown that had the COBRA players jumping for joy as his side led 11-9 with the conversion to come.
Wil Worthington capped a fine performance with the final two points to give a final score of 13-9.
Llanidloes will be very disappointed with the final result but both sides are looking in good fettle as they approach the start of their league campaigns which start next Saturday.
Final score: COBRA 13 v Llanidloes 9
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