NORTH WALES CRUSADERS, who seven days earlier had inflicted a first defeat of the season on TORFAEN TIGERS with a 52-14 victory in the Grand Final, repeated that triumph with a 21-18 win in Saturday’s CWPAN SIALENS CADAIR OLWYN (THE WELSH CUP FINAL).

The game, which is limited to Welsh-based teams rather than English guests, appeared to be in the Crusaders’ control at the break, when a 19-5 lead had been established. 

Torfaen, however, clawed their way back to within a single point, with the help of tries by Jason Reynolds and Scotty Turner, with the latter adding a conversion, a field-goal and a penalty-goal.

A disallowed try for Jason Reynolds, however, turned out to be costly, North Wales sealing victory with a late penalty-goal by Matthew Turner, who had scored a try, three conversions and a field-goal in the first-half. 

Jess Booth and Stuart Williams also crossed for the Crusaders in the opening period, when Torfaen were limited to a Jason Reynolds touchdown and a field-goal by Scotty Turner.

CRUSADERS: Jess Booth, Stuart Williams, Martin Turner, Fionn McCabe, Ethan Neilson, Matthew Turner

TORFAEN: Mark Williams, Darran Dowey, Leighton Morris, Scotty Turner, Jamie Reynolds, Parker Golden, Jason Reynolds, Dane Oram

Referees: Stephen Jones, Patrick Martin