The New Dock Stars won the battle of the west Walian clubs to claim the WRU Division 3 Cup following a 32-29 victory over Tumble in the penultimate ‘Go Compare Road to Principality 2026’ series of finals.
Led by former Wales U20, Scarlets, Bristol and Dragons professional Jordan Williams at No 10, the Stars picked up their first of silverware this season and will quickly switch their attention to winning some more in their league.
But while Williams was the big name on the team sheet it was Stars fullback Adam Gealy who stood out as he notched 17 points with a try, three conversions and two penalties to ensure a third win against the Magpies this season after completing a league double.
The Stars hit the front after only three minutes through hooker Jonny Harries, who scored off the back of a powerful rolling maul. Former Wales U20 prop Ben Leung then added to his two tries in the semi-final win over Rhigos with a bullocking score from short range to leave an easy conversion for fullback Gealy to give his side a 12-point lead after only eight minutes.
Wing Dafydd Daniel was next to score midway through the opening half as he took an inside pass from centre Garen Davies following a lineout move 20 metres away. There was a response from Tumble five minutes later when lock Nathan Willard drove over to end their first real attacking opportunity.
Gealy kicked a penalty three minutes later, yet the Magpies fought back before half time with a move that started with wing Rhys King breaking down the left touchline. Two phases later, and on the other wing, outside centre Dafydd Thomas beat two defenders to score in the corner.
The second half started like the first with the Stars scoring a try, this time through ‘Man of the Match’ Gealy. Williams floated a looping pass over the head of Tumble fullback Hewitt to give Gealy a clear run to the line, and he converted his own try to open up a 17-point lead.
A second penalty a few minutes later raised the margin to 20 points and Tumble looked down and almost out. But Steff Price’s men had other ideas and staged a brilliant fightback that saw them come within three points of victory.
Prop Garin McPherson-Williams scored from short range after some good attacking play, and fullback Steve Hewitt added the extras. As the clock ticked down into the final 10 minutes, the Tumble centre Thomas scored his second try of the afternoon.
Ellis Payne’s conversion attempt went wide and so Tumble still needed two scores. They managed to get one of those from No 8 Steffan Owen, who was at the back of a driving maul in the game’s final play.
It was close in the end, very close indeed, but the Stars hung on.
Scorers: Tumble: Tries: Nathan Willard, Dafydd Thomas 2, Garin McPherson-Williams, Steffan Owen Con: Steven Hewitt 2. New Dock Stars: Tries: Jonny Harries, Ben Leung, Dafydd Daniel, Adam Gealy; Cons: Adam Gealy 3; Pens: Adam Gealy 2
TEAMS
Tumble: Steven Hewitt; Scott Jones, Dafydd Thomas, Steffan Price (captain), Rhys King, Ellis Payne, Iwan Morgan; Iago Richards, Dafydd Humphreys, Garin McPherson-Williams, Ryan Williams, Nathan Willard, Leonard Ellery, Harri Bennett, Steffan Owen
Reps: Osian Flint, Ifan Samuel, Ryan Lewis, Jack Morris, Owen Bunford, Dafydd Griffiths, James Owens, Liam Williard
New Dock Stars: Adam Gealy; Rhys Howells, Luke Morris, Garen Davies, Dafydd Daniel; Jordan Williams (captain), Jason Baxter; Ryan Tovey, Jonny Harries, Ben Leung, Matthew Cherry, Elis Evans, Keane Davies, Ellis Dickeson, Iestyn Bunyan
Reps: Rob Jones, James Evans, Josh Davies, Liam Doran, Jordan Evans, Tom Lewis, Alex Kwan, Dale Watts
GO COMPARE MAN OF THE MATCH
