Division 6 East winners Trefil took on Division 5 runners-up Abertysswg at Glan-yr-Afon Park, the home of Blackwood.
If Abertysswg were thinking of a SWALEC League play-off in four days time, it did not show as they had all the early pressure, but Trefil soaked it up with a great defence.
After 21 minutes the first score came when Aber centre Richard Theophilus kicked a penalty while fly half Matthew Edwards almost levelled with a drop shot.
Then came a surprise score as Abertysswg’s pack shoved but rose to find Trefil had scored when David Kearney broke and full back Matthew Harley kicked ahead and regained to cross with Edwards converting.
A 7-3 interval lead was pegged back by another good Theophilus penalty but flanker Christian Jones replied with a great run for Trefil.
After 54 minutes Edwards placed a penalty for 10-6 but back surged Abertysswg with Rikki Jones running well and after wonderful defence Trefil just had to break as centre Jamie Parry, having moved to scrum half, dived over to give Abertysswg the lead.
Now Trefil hit back, having superbly handled the threat of experienced Aber fly half Jamie Howells, and Trefil centre Lee Brooker banged over a massive penalty via the crossbar.
Abertysswg were down 11-13 with just 10 minutes remaining and hammered away for nine minutes and 30 seconds before replacement centre Josh Perry kicked a splendid goal to win it amidst great excitement to claim a nailbiting 14-13 victory.
While Abertysswg flanker Liam Buckley was voted man of the match, great credit went to referee Dion Tuck, who though only a district official in his second season, will surely rise quickly up the WRU referees ladder.
