IT’S been a long and hard road for Abergavenny to secure a place in this Sunday’s Principality Stadium Cup Final. Here’s how they did it.

Abergavenny - 22

New Panteg - 10

Local side New Panteg proved worthy rivals in the first round of the cup but were eventually beaten with tries by Josh Davies, Antony Squires and Rhys Dawe. Josh Parr scored two conversions and a penalty.

Abergavenny- 43

Fairwater - 38

What a match! Aber went in to what seemed like a winning lead lead only to see the away side draw level at full time to take the game into extra time. But the Clarets came good to score two more tries to win and enter the next round.

Tries - Antony Squires (2), Dan Beavan, Rhys Dawe, Garin Price, Nathan Byrne, Lloyd Holder, Rhod Webster (Four conversions).

Treharis - 7

Abergavenny - 9

Aber played tough Rhonda side Treharis on the Saturday before Christmas in what proved to be the toughest game to date. Aber’s forwards kept them in the game with Webster kicking two penalties. In the closing stages, youth player Nathan Williams kicked the wining goal and into the next round they went.

Llanhilleth - 18

Abergavenny - 28

Once again on the road Aber traveled to local side Llanhilleth for what proved to be another difficult encounter. Falling behind at half-time, a comeback in the second period saw them progress into the quarter finals. The dream of playing at the stadium was becoming a reality.

Tries - Jay Admans, Josh Davies, Rhob Conick. Conversions - Josh Parr, Nathan Williams. Penalties - Nathan Williams (3).

Abergavenny -18

Penygraig - 17

A home draw in the quarter finals proved invaluable against a very tough and well organised Penygraig side who tested Abergavenny to the limit. Aber took an early lead but went behind as the game drew to an end, only for young Nathan Williams to calmly kick a penalty in the closing minutes to win the game and a place in the semi-final .

Tries - Rhys Dawe, Lewis Evans. Conversions - Josh Parr. Penalities - Josh Parr, Nathan Williams.

Abergavenny - 25

Nantgaredig - 23

This game was played at a neutral venue and a huge crowd of home supporters made the trip to Llanharan, hoping to to see their beloved Abergavenny make the final of the bowl. And what a game they saw. Aber were trailing 20-10 at half-time, and Nantgaredig supporters were booking their buses for Cardiff, but the ‘Genny had other ideas and fought back in gallant fashion. Five points behind and little under a minute left on the clock, winger Antony Squires was put into space to score a sensational try to win the game and take Abergavenny to the principality stadium for the final of the WRU National Bowl.

Tries - Matt Price, Nathan Thomas, Antony Squires. Conversions - Lewis Evans, Nathan Williams.

Penalties - Lewis Evans (2).

IT takes a dedicated coaching team to bring out the best in a club and help them reach cup finals and Abergavenny RFC are spearheaded by a quality partnership.

Club coach Nathan Thomas is in his second season with Abergavenny. He came to the club with a tremendous pedigree. He’s represented Wales nine times in the back row and played for Llanelli Scarlets and Cardiff Blues. He’s also competed in over 100 games for Bath RFC, where he won a Heineken cup winners medal against Brive. Even though Thomas has now turned 40, it is a huge testament to the man that he still puts his boots on and puts his body on the line week in and week out.

Thomas is a huge asset to the club and his contribution over the past two seasons has been immense.

Fellow coach Simon Williams is also in his second season with the club. He’s coached at Chepstow and several Cardiff based sides. He’s also played at first class level for Ebbw Vale and Newbridge and his meticulous planing and attention to detail is a huge asset.

As is evident from the player profiles, out of the 26 man squad named for this final, 21 players have come up through the junior and mini sections at the club. This is a massive achievement and shows that grass roots rugby is thriving in Abergavenny.

Chairman Huw Beavan told the Chronicle, “Nobody at the beginning of the season would have said that we would be playing at the principality stadium, but out of 170 teams we made it. It has been a fantastic seven months. The buzz and the excitement that this cup run has bought to not only the club, but to the town of Abergavenny, gives me a feeling of great pride and I can’t thank everybody at the club enough for the amount of time and effort they have all put in . Our support this season has been tremendous. We took four coaches to the semis and we are taking 13 to the final. I’d like to thank Belinda for her hard work in organising this logistical nightmare. Lastly, may I wish the playing squad the very best of luck for Sunday. Win, lose, or draw, we are all very proud of you. Just go out there and give everything you’ve got and enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.”