ON a glorious afternoon at the Millennium Stadium, Blackwood Stars won the WDRU Worthington Cup for the second timein their history, defeating Bryn-cethin by 28 points to 18.

Bryncethin had the better of the early exchanges, narrowly missing with a penalty attempt in the first minute. After eight minutes of pressure, with some penetrating runs by full-back Mike Richards, Bryncethin took a deserved lead when outside-half Gareth Pearce scored the first points of the final with a well-taken penalty.

Blackwood responded, and two minutes after they had gone behind they turned down the chance to draw level with an easy penalty award, kicking to touch and subsequently handing the ball back to Bryn as they lost the ball at the throw-in.

There was little to choose between the two sides for the next 20 minutes as both defences stood firm and cleared their lines. Half an hour into the game a great kick-ahead by Pearce gained a lineout just metres from the Blackwood line, and an infringement at the lineout allowed Pearce to score his second penalty of the game to stretch the lead to 6-0.

Blackwood struck back, and within minutes were awarded a kickable penalty. Again they opted to go for the lineout, this time winning their own ball but failing to cross for the elusive try and their first points. However, it wasn't long before Blackwood were rewarded for their endeavours as number eight Neil Cotter was driven over the line after 36 minutes to score the game's first try, converted by Mark Burkby, to give Stars the lead at 7-6.

With the first half coming to a close, Bryncethin regained the initiative and were rewarded with a well-taken drop by Andrew Veasley to restore their advantage at 9-7, a lead they held until the interval.

The see-saw scoring continued early in the second half as Burkby scored a penalty to make it 10-9 to Blackwood, only to see Pearce regain the lead yet again for Bryncethin after 12 minutes of the half with a penalty to bring it back to 12-10.

Outside-half Burkby's silky skills allowed him to score his side's second try after 16 minutes, but yet again the three- point advantage disappeared as Pearce scored another penalty to bring the scores level yet again.

With just five minutes plus injury time showing on the clock, Burkby scored his second, and his team's third try, which he converted himself, to open a decisive gap at 22-15. Two minutes later, as Bryncethin attempted to rescue the game by running from deep in their own half, an indiscretion allowed Burkby to kick a penalty, and at 25-15 it seemed that the cup was on its way to Blackwood.

To their credit Bryncethin never gave up the fight, and with 40 minutes up on the clock Pearce kicked his fourth penalty of the day for a personal tally of 15 points. It was fitting that man of the match Burkby had the last word as he scored the last of his 23 points with the final kick, a penalty to give a final scoreline of Bryncethin 18 to Blackwood Stars' 28.