St Davids 10.

Pencoed 34.

St Davids struggled to raise a side against visiting Pencoed, but with typical Saints pride and passion they pushed Pencoed hard before bowing out of the Swalec Cup.

Defeat was no surprise but in the final analysis the hosts can be pleased with the margin of defeat against a team which plays three divisions higher than them, especially as they were short of several key players and could muster only one replacement.

They also had to make a number of positional changes with flanker Eddie Bolger playing scrum half, Ian McGarty switching from second row to centre, Fraser Watson changing from his usual wing berth to full back and Jack Dudley required for the whole game as second row.

Pencoed showed the early power that has earned them their place in division two (west) as centre Keith Davies rounded off some good work between forwards and backs with a try converted by Ken Morris.

But the Saints fought back and after a good build up involving Barry John, Jake Pratt, Anthony Davies and Gethin Bateman, it was big Jack Dudley who set up the chance for a try from prop Chris Morgan, which skipper Phil Lamb converted.

Ken Morris put Pencoed back in front at half time with a try which he also converted, and Keith Davies claimed his second soon after the interval to push Pencoed 19-5 in front.

Phil Lamb missed two penalties for the Saints, but was on target with his third attempt.

The greater fitness levels of the visitors inevitably told in the final quarter and they added three more tries from centre Justin Russell and winger Jeff Hobbs (2).

But St Davids can hold their heads high after playing so well against a very useful team.

St Davids: Fraser Watson, Arthur Chambers, Fintan Godkin, Ian McGarty, Ryan Bowen, Phil Lamb (Capt), Eddie Bolger, Dan Colfer, Noel Lyons, Chris Morgan (Nick Davies), Jack Dudley, Gethin Bateman, Barry John, Jake Pratt, Anthony Davies.