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Having made great efforts to get Newbridge Fields 1^ST XV pitch playable late rain turned it into a quagmire. A renewed effort then took place to satisfy the referee that the game could take place with forking taking place on the 2^nd XV pitch right up to kick off time. The Athletic players made the effort worthwhile with an outstanding performance in difficult conditions to unseat 2^nd placed Div 1 East Central side with a deserved 21-16 victory.

Rumney started the stronger and for 10 minutes made light of the conditions with excellent ball retention starving the Athletic of any meaningful possession. Their dominance saw outside half Regan Mahony land two penalties for offences at a ruck and holding on in a tackle. Gradually the Athletic worked their way back into the game. Hooker Lee Murphy led the way with aggressive ball carrying inspiring locks Ben Cording, Jonathon Stoker, No 8 Ben Davies and captain Sean Williams to follow his example.

From a line out 8 metres from the Rumney line the Athletic set up a driving maul. Wing Will Barraclough a converted back row forward showed his predatory instinct by joining the maul and crossing the try line. It was the third successive game he had managed a try. Outside half Robert Evans returning to the club he last played for in the Championship added the conversion to put the Athletic 7-6 ahead after 26 minutes.

Three minutes later scrum half Aled Thomas collected a clearance kick 40 metres out and close to the touch line and fed wing Barraclough who ran strongly before being halted just short of the try line. From the ruck Jonathon Stoker and then flanker Sean Williams were held up before Thomas fed Evans. Evans shaped to pass and with a swivel of the hips glided past the defence to cross under the posts. He converted his own try.

The Athletic now had their tails up and with half backs Thomas and Evans pulling the strings brought centres Chris Price and Tom Jenkins into play along with wing Tom James. Rumney were penalised and Evans put the ball into touch 5 metres from the Rumney line. Hooker Murphy found Tom Davies at the back of the line out then joined the driving maul to cross for the third Athletic try. Evans conversion gave the Athletic a 21-6 half time lead.

Wing Owain Leyshon replaced the injured Barraclough at half time. Shortly after the restart Price went off injured necessitating a reshuffle. Flanker Tom Davies moved to centre, and Will Petchell came into the pack. For 20 minutes of the half the game was even, played mainly around half way. Despite the conditions both sides were attempting to play positive rugby. Following two successive penalties Rumney found themselves 5 metres from the Athletic try line. A succession of line outs and scrums were held out by the Athletic with props Wayne Fooks and Matthew Muir holding their own against much heavier opponents. Eventually the ball was moved wide for Rumney centre Luke Fear to spot a gap and race over to reduce the deficit to 21-11.

Rumney were now in ascendancy and with the Athletic heavily penalised were able to keep the home side on the defensive. Youth team Athletic full back Levi Hallett was assured under the greasy high ball while half backs Thomas and Evans repeatedly kicked the Athletic out of trouble. Athletic prop Matthew Norman joined the fray and proved solid in preventing the Rumney pack’s repeated attempts to gain pushover tries. The Athletic giving a very gutsy performance managed to keep their line in tact until the last minute when Rumney prop Josh McAdams charged over from close range. There was time to restart. Rumney tried attacking from deep but determined defence kept them inside their own half until a dropped pass in a tackle signalled the end of the game.

Head Coach John Apsee said “It was a very gutsy Athletic display by all 18 players used. In the pack Lee Murphy, Ben Cording, Ben Davies and Sean Williams led the way. Half backs Aled Thomas and Robert Evans kept the team on the front foot. Evans a quality outside half brought a structure and momentum to our back play.”