Regan Watkins was the talk of the town in Blaina after scoring the try in the last play of the game that won the Division 1 Cup for the 150th anniversary celebrating Gwent club at the ‘Go Compare Road to Principality 2026’. The last gasp drama ensured the Lambs weren’t slaughtered for the second time […]
Regan Watkins was the talk of the town in Blaina after scoring the try in the last play of the game that won the Division 1 Cup for the 150th anniversary celebrating Gwent club at the ‘Go Compare Road to Principality 2026’.
The last gasp drama ensured the Lambs weren’t slaughtered for the second time in three years at the home of Welsh rugby. In 2024 they were beaten 24-21 by Cardiff Quins after failing to convert a late penalty line-out.
This time everything worked perfectly for skipper Michael John and his pack as they were able to overturn a 17-13 deficit to Abercrave – with a little help from his brother-in-law on the wing.
It will remain one of those long running questions in the town about what on earth a wing was doing in the hurly burly of a driving lineout, but with the cup on the line it was all hands to the pump to earn a notable 18-17 victory.
“I just joined the maul and thought ‘let’s just have a push’. The next thing I knew the ball was in my chest,” said Watkins.
“I saw line and I just dived over, although I wasn’t sure if it was the try line or the five metre line. It was mental because all of a sudden, I had about 20 bodies diving on top of me.
“This is my first year in senior rugby after rejoining the club from Ebbw Vale Youth and I’d never played at Principality Stadium before. I couldn’t have asked for a better day.
“That’s got to be the easiest try I’ve ever scored, from about two inches out, but easily the best I’ve ever scored.”
John was one of nine Blaina players returning from the Division 3 Cup final two years ago and he was delighted to have exorcised the ghosts of that defeat. Now they have the small matter of trying to clinch the Division 1 East title and the Ben Francis Cup.
“To get to this stage we’ve had to have a never give up attitude because we’ve always been behind. We got to the last play of the game, and we just trusted each together – we knew we were going to pull it out of the bag,” said John.
“Our set piece has been good all season and the players have really grafted hard for this. The togetherness has been outstanding.
“We still have more work to do. We’ve got a league game next week, and we could potentially win that, and so the work will start again.
“The support from everyone has been outstanding and what an amazing day it has been. My brother-in-law pinched the try after latching onto the back of the maul.
“Fair play to Abercrave they are an outstanding outfit, and it must have been a game for the fans to watch because it was back and forth throughout. But now the party starts after a great occasion in a very special stadium!”
The former Newport, Wales and British & Irish Lions legendary outside half David Watkins is the most famous ‘Watkins’ from Blaina, but for one day at least it will be the name of Regan Watkins that will be on everyone’s lips.
For Abercrave it will be back to trying to clinch the Division 1 West Central title and, with it, promotion into the Championship. They also have to face Vardre in the Swansea Valley Cup.
They led for long periods but ultimately paid the price for conceding a late penalty that was then kicked into the corner. The rest, as they say, is now history.
“I’m gutted, to be honest,” admitted Abercrave skipper Jon Hapgood, who at least had the consolation of being named as the Go Compare Man of the Match.
“I’d say we deserved it – Blaina did well at the end, but yeah, pretty gutted. We dominated the first half and our message at half-time was just to keep it going.
“I don’t think we did at the start of the second half. We imploded a little bit and Blaina capitalised and they went off from there.”