A fantastic finish by Joe Goodchild and the boot of Dan Fish secured Cardiff’s ninth Welsh Cup win at the Principality Stadium.
In the third final between Wales’s oldest rivals it was Newport that had the brighter start in what was a scrappy first half. Both sides we looking to gain the upper hand in a typical local derby cup final. But it was the defence of both sides that was on top as whenever the Black and Ambers came close to the Cardiff’s twenty-two the Blue & Blacks were ready and stopped any momentum and any chance of scoring.
Cardiff were also having difficulty breaking down the Newport defence as they tried to attack at speed. Both sides were trying to play attacking running rugby but it was the boot that saw the only points of the first half. Fish put Cardiff ahead midway through before Matt O’Brien responded in kind. Just before the break Fish added his second to send the Blue & Blacks in 6-3 ahead.
The second half started with Newport on the front foot as they threw everything at the Cardiff line. Several phases took them close before former Cardiff back row Ben Roach dived over from short range. O’Brien added the extras to give the Black and Ambers the lead for the first time.
And that was how it stayed until five minutes from the end. Quite how, though, is a surprise. Both sides had chances to score, the cross field kick being an option that was working for both teams, somehow the defences covering it on every occasion and snuffing out any further threat.
A kicking dual between the outside halves saw the ball ping back and forth up the field like a tennis match, Fish, though, getting better of the territory for the Blue & Blacks. He was off target with a penalty with ten minutes left as he lost his footing on the soft Principality Stadium surface.It was his defensive clearance, however, that gave Cardiff the position to launch the attack that won the cup.
The outside half fired the ball into the Newport half from well inside his own twenty-two and when the lineout was stolen Cardiff went on the hunt for a gap in the Newport backline. Eventually they found it with Arron Pinches punching a whole through to the twenty-two and when the ball was recycled to Fish he spotted the space on the right hand wing.
He sent the ball wide to Goodchild who had a bit of space to run into, but there was plenty still to do to get to the try line. With the cover coming over it looked like he may not get there, but as the full back came over he took off and whilst still in the air managed to place the ball over the try line without any of his body going out of play. It was one of those tries that will be seen on highlights reels of the best tries ever. Dan Fish – who was later named man of the match – converted from the touchline.
There was still time for the Black and Ambers to respond, but Cardiff were in no mood to give them the opportunity. In fact Cardiff finished the game on the attack again as the controlled the ball and the clock for five minutes at the end of the game. When the referee called time Fish thumped the ball into the stand and the celebrations began.
