The Western Mail

PLUCKY village side Abercwmboi enjoyed a great day out at the Brewery Field in yesterday's fourth round Konica Minolta Cup tie but not even the dreadful conditions could stop Bridgend cruising into the last 16.

The Ravens had far too much pace and class for the plucky Division Three South East side.

Abercwmboi matched Bridgend for spirit but the Ravens held all the aces once the ball was moved away from the forwards.

No 8 Gareth Williams pounced for a Bridgend pushover try after five minutes and added a second six minutes later.

When the Bridgend pack mauled the visitors back 20 metres for prop Phil Booth to score after 14 minutes, it looked like Abercwmboi were in for a hammering but to their credit, they tackled bravely.

Some great combined play by backs and forwards led to a try by wing Neil Dixon and an 80 metre counter attack brought another for lock Nathan Strong.

Two conversions by wing Grant Epton made it 29-0 at the interval.

From the restart a thrust by skipper Mike Powell was carried on by Epton and Booth and full-back Anthony Carter scored Bridgend's sixth try.

Centre Neil Burnett pounced on a Bridgend mistake to get a deserved try for Abercwmboi.

Conditions worsened dramatically in the final quarter and no-one complained when referee Howard Hopkins blew up early.

Bridgend: Tries - G Williams (2), A Carter (2), P Booth, N Dixon, N Strong; Cons - G Epton (3).

Abercwmboi: Try - N Burnett

The adverse weather conditions of the past week have taken their toll on Whitland RFC's Llwyn Ty Gwyn ground, with the Pembrokeshire club deciding that the pitch is unplayable. As a result, the fourth round Konica Minolta Welsh Cup tie between Whitland and Pontypridd scheduled for Saturday 22^nd January, has been postponed.

A pitch inspection took place at the Whitland ground on Friday afternoon, with the decision that the playing surface, already heavily cut up following a league fixture last weekend, had been badly affected by the wet weather conditions of the past few days in West Wales, and unfit to stage the Pontypridd cup tie.

The normal procedures following a cup tie postponement would be to fulfil the fixture within a week, which would see the game played next Saturday, 29^th January, and Pontypridd's away Premiership match at Bridgend being postponed in turn. Ponty however have five players tied in with the Wales under 21 squad on that weekend, and no agreement has yet been reached with Whitland as to the re-scheduling of the game.

The remedial work carried out on the electrical problems that caused the shut down of the Pontypridd RFC clubhouse in December has now been successfully completed, with the bar, offices and club shop expected to be open and fully functional by the middle of next week.