Deaker in charge of Cardiff v Narberth clash

Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions Published 10:26 am 24th Jan 2007 News

As it is currently the close season in New Zealand, Deaker was keen to stay match-fresh ahead of the game and asked the WRU to appoint him to a match in Wales.

Cardiff, along with the other thirteen Principality Premiership clubs, come into the Konica Minolta Cup draw for the first time this weekend. Eight face away matches, while the other six, including the Blue and Blacks, have been drawn at home.

Holders Pontypridd face a tricky tie at the Welfare Ground against Division One pacesetters Newbridge, who they have met once before, winning 33-10 at Sardis Road in a quarter-final ten seasons ago.

Only six of the games have seen previous meetings of those clubs and in the thirty-six seasons of cup rugby, only Whitland and Cross Keys have met more than once; Cross Keys winning in 2002-03 by 25-18 at home and last season by 8-3 at Whitland.

Cup rugby and Brett Davey go hand in hand. In 2002, Brett scored 26 points in the Cup semi-final to defeat Cardiff and all 20 in the final to give Pontypridd the crown over Llanelli at the Millennium Stadium.

This time the 34-year-old Beddau player-coach has not had his mind as much on the Cup as he has on the league, as his side play host to last season’s runners-up, Neath.

“Neath are a big club and we will just take it as it comes. Our focus has to be on trying to win ASDA League One East but of course it will be a great day for the village and for our club to be playing against the Welsh All Blacks.”

Davey broke a leg last season against Merthyr and has only just returned to the field.

“I’ve come on at fly-half, where you can influence the game more,” he said. “But we have so many good young players here at Beddau and most are home-grown. We have supplied teams in the top division with players and have the younger brothers of internationals Gethin Jenkins and Gareth Wyatt in our side.

“We also have Martyn Madden, the former Wales prop in training. He is trying to get fit, but has not yet played for us. In fact, he played against me in the 2002 final for Llanelli.”

Tonmawr will provide Glamorgan Wanderers with tough opposition at the Memorial Ground, while there will be two local derby games as St Peter’s take on Llanishen in a battle of two clubs from Division Three South-East and Maesteg meet Bridgend Athletic at Llynfi Road.

Full draw (previous cup meetings in brackets)
Beddau v Neath (0-1);
Bonymaen v Newport (0-1);
Bridgend v Abercynon;
Caerphilly v Carmarthen Quins;
Cardiff v Narberth;
Cwmllynfell v Aberavon;
Glamorgan Wanderers v Tonmawr (1-0);
Llandovery v Nantyffyllon;
Llangennech v Ebbw Vale;
Maesteg v Bridgend Ath;
Newbridge v Pontypridd (0-1);
Pontypool v Bedwas (1-0);
Seven Sisters v Llanelli;
St Peter’s v Llanishen;
Swansea v Loughor;
Whitland v Cross Keys (0-2).