A freezing damp evening in Hendy saw old adversaries Llanelli and Cardiff lock horns in a repeat of last years DC Thomas Cup Final.
From the kick off both sides used their backlines to good effect, moving the ball quickly through the hands.
The first break of the game came when the forwards led by a Lewis Marshall (Coed Glas) charge broke the gain line. Kieran Trotman (Danescourt), assisted by his second row counterpart Bradley Mais (Pentrebane), ensured quick ball to the back line. Excellent passing and an intricate backs move saw the ball fall into Richard Singers (Rhiwbina) hands and he beat four defenders, running a full 30 metres to go over the whitewash. William Hayward (Pentyrch) duly added the extra two points.
It was the Cardiff forwards who then began to show another side to their game. Matthew Marley (Creigiau) made the hard yards and a driving rolling maul followed drawing in the Llanelli defence. The ever present Michael Hale (Ysgol Bro Eirwg) marshalled his forwards superbly and when requested, the ball went through the hands to Callum Sheedy (St. Peters) who burst taking a number of defenders with him.
It was Hale again who capitalized on Cardiff pressure and a Llanelli error by pouncing on a dropped pass over the hosts line.
On the stroke of half time, and completely against the run of play, Llanelli intercepted a pass to score under the posts leaving the half time score at 19 5.
The second half saw substitutions made by both sides and a far more evenly contested game. Excellent pressure from both teams saw Llanelli break the deadlock with their outside centre scoring a scintillating try from his own half.
Cardiff responded with a move from the base of the scrum to see Hale combine with number eight Lewis Marshall. He drew in the cover defence superbly to pass to Calum McDonald (Trowbridge) who beat his opposite number to go over. The try was converted by Tyler Williams (St. Albans) from the touchline.
Final score Llanelli 12 Cardiff 26