THE PARTY went long into the night at Pandy Park on Monday. In fact, some of the Cross Keys squad that won the Swalec Cup are probably still going strong.

Silverware was richly deserved for a superb season by a tight-knit team that was fighting on three fronts heading into April.

They put the Premiership on the back burner to focus on the knockout tournaments and that heaped the pressure on when they lost their British and Irish Cup final to Munster A.

The most cruel of endings to a terrific campaign seemed imminent when Pontypridd led 13-6 going into half-time in the Swalec Cup final but Keys dug deep and were worthy winners at the Millennium Stadium.

I have seen some fine sides go close since covering rugby in Gwent.

Alex Codling’s Ebbw Vale went from relegation fodder to title contenders thanks to a combination of a strong set piece and a dangerous back three of Andrew McLaughlan, Andrew Bevan and Simon Hunt.

Newport’s squad did terrifically in the first season of the British and Irish Cup, a campaign that led to the emergence of Andrew Coombs and a tremendous night when a Premiership-bound Exeter were downed at a raucous Rodney Parade.

There have been some fine triumphs in the Swalec Leagues but it was a relief to see Keys make it over the line and end something of a trophy drought in terms of frontline tournaments in this part of Wales.

Their usual suspects helped ensure that they lifted the cup – try scorers Dan Hodge, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Trowbridge enjoyed terrific seasons, Rob Nash was named man of the match while centre Leon Andrews wasn’t far behind.

But a pivotal figure on Monday summed up why Keys have made it a season to remember. Owen Jones has worn the number 20 jersey throughout most of this season and it has often just needed a quick spray of Febreze after games rather than being chucked in the washing machine.

He has watched from the sidelines while Rhys Dyer frequently got the nod at scrum-half but he didn’t complain. He turned up at training and didn’t throw his toys out of the pram about being a fringe player.

That patience paid off when Dyer limped off injured in the first half against Ponty.

Jones’ energy and spark played a massive part in securing a first trophy in the club’s 127-year history.

Keys have fielded a settled starting XV for much of this season but it was the likes of Jones and his fellow deputies Nathan Williams, Marc Popham, Jamie Sollis and Craig Gould that mean that the Swalec Cup sits proudly at Pandy Park.