An about turn by Abertillery means that they will go to Aberavon in only the second meeting of the pair in Welsh Cup history, Aberavon having won away by 12-6 in a quarter-final of season 1974/75.
Oddly, there will be first-time cup meetings in 11 of the matches with only Llanharan and Tondu having met on more than one occasion – Tondu won away by 17-9 in 1992/93 and Llanharan winning away by 33-21 two seasons ago.
Rumney travel to Newbridge remembering they won 14-3 at home in 1999/2000, but former coach Mike Watkins now has several players who were in the Rumny side that day now playing for him at the Welfare Ground.
Treorchy, bottom of the league’s Division One, entertain Glamorgan Wanders at the Oval having lost 22-12 away to the Cardiff-based club only two weeks ago in a league match. Their only previous cup meeting was in 1971/72 – the first season of cup rugby – when the Wanderers gained a home win by 16-9.
All the other matches are first-timers, but Blackwood-Cross Keys and Tredegar-Bedwas are repeats of Division One encounters already played this season when Cross Keys and Bedwas were victorious.
Likewise for the Hirwaun-Maesteg tie, with Maesteg having won the Division Two encounter by 43-17 on August 31.
Bonymaen will come up against the speedy unbeaten Division Two leaders Llangennech in what looks to be an attractive fxture at Parc Mawr while the Division One leaders Pontypool will be favourites at home to Cwmavon.
Clubs from outside the top three divisions will be battling to stay in with Penygraig at home to Narberth looking to be a tough encounter and the Nantymoel-Taffs Well clash means that at least one ‘minnow’ will survive.
In the final two matches it will be tough for the great cup-fighters from Pill Harriers, who make their first-ever trip to Church Bank to take on high-flying Llandovery, whil Banwen go West in search of glory at Whitland.
PRINCIPALITY CUP ROUND FIVE
(matches to be played on Saturday, 21 November)
Aberavon v Abertillery; Beddau v Merthyr; Blackwood v Cross Keys; Bonymaen v Llangennech; Carmarthen Quins v Brynmawr; Hirwaun v Maesteg; Llandovery v Pill Harriers; Llanharan v Tondu; Nantymoel v Taffs Well; Newbridge v Rumney; Penygraig v Narberth; Pontypool v Cwmavon; Tredegar v Bedwas; Treorchy v Glamorgan Wanderers; Whitland v Banwen.
Related Stories:
ABERTILLERY DROP OUT OF CUP
