Ultimately, it was Swansea that would prove triumphant in the showpiece event at the Millennium Stadium after a stunning second half fight-back from the men in Green to triumph 21-13, while the capital University dominated the Varsity Shield for yet another year.
Martyn Fowler’s men, who were gunning for back to back Cup victories, subjected Swansea to a tumultuous first half whereby they besieged the Swansea whitewash at times, building a credible 10-0 lead at the interval.
The opening exchanges were nothing to write home about with both teams nervously coming to terms on Wales’ biggest sporting stage.
The team in Red looked more comfortable and began to assert their authority, and were rewarded with a couple of shots at goal, with full back Charlie Simpson succeeding at the second attempt.
Swansea were continually on the back foot as Cardiff began to boss proceedings up front, and with the line-out for the Green and Whites misfiring, more and more pressure was being put on their try line.
Something had to give, and eventually did when Swansea found themselves down to 14 after back row Reuben Tucker was given ten minutes on the sidelines. With the numerical advantage Cardiff decided to turn the screw, opting for a line-out rather than a shot at goal.
And the risk paid off - the line-out was claimed and the Cardiff forwards drove over from close range with flanker Arthur Ellis emerging beneath the pile of bodies with the ball. Simpson added the extras, albeit with a bit of help from the post.
With Cardiff dictating play, perhaps the match should have been sewn up by the interval as they spurned numerous chances before the break, with maybe one or two players guilty of white-line fever.
The players withdrew for the break, Cardiff ruing their missed chances and Swansea wondering what had hit them.
You felt it was imperative that Swansea were to get the first score of the half if they were to find a way back into the match.
Not being privy to Richard Lancaster’s half time team talk, I can only speculate as to what was said but whatever it was, it worked.
Swansea started like a train and medical student Sam Soul’s touchdown was just what the doctor ordered, though Ianto Griffiths’ conversion was wide.
Cardiff immediately hit back with another Simpson penalty before Griffiths once again reduced the arrears to five points.
Swansea captain Jonathan Vaughan spoke before the match of ‘writing the wrongs of last year’ and as the game wore on, so did the leader's impact as the Swansea forwards started to exert increasing pressure over their rivals.
Into the last quarter and with the Green and Whites now looking the stronger of the sides, a cute move down the right hand flank from wing Andrew Claypole, before a Dion Jones kick through enabled replacement Connor Lloyd to gather and go over to draw the sides level. Griffiths stepped up and poked home the extras to give Swansea the lead for the first time, sending the already vociferous ‘Green Army’ into hysterics.
As time ticked on, tension grew with both sides prodding and probing in an attempt to make the crucial break through, but it was Cardiff who blinked first, impinging at the ruck as Griffiths dutifully fired over the penalty for a five point lead.
This changed the game leaving Cardiff - having previously needed just three points for glory - now needing a try, and soon! However, for all their endeavour there was to be no way back for the 2012 Champions, and with the last kick of the match, Griffiths guided Swansea home with another superbly struck shot.
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