Continuing the scenic theme in connection with United Churches Fellowship's travels in the National Christian Cup, this picture is of the Rhondda Valley in South Wales. Click here to find out how our teams got on in Round 3.

Most of the games in Round 3 of this competition were played on 2 December when UCF made the long journey down to South Wales to play Rhondda Royals. Because of the recent wet weather in Wales particularly, they had managed to play their Round 2 game only five days earlier, and then only on astroturf after three previous attempts to play their match against local rivals Cardiff Inter Churches on grass had failed.

As a team only in their first season, facing opponents who last season had reached the last eight and who had previously reached two semi-finals and one final, Rhondda Royals were again probably the underdogs. However, with clinical finishing on a somewhat undersized pitch, they proved to be the superior team on the day and ended up winning 5-2, leaving UCF to make the long journey home, which they fortunately managed just before gales once more swept the country.

Also on their travels, Hayes Lane Baptist made the comparatively short journey to Hertfordshire where, as definite underdogs, they faced the current holders, Kings Sports. Not unsurprisingly, they lost, by 1-5.

The team that got nearest to reaching Round 4 was Newgen, who were at home to Croxley Baptist from Watford. In the opinion of their Club Secretary, Brian Marriott, although Newgen looked the better side for most of the game, according to Brian, unfortunately they didn't play for the first 20 minutes or so, by which time they were 0-2 down and virtually out. The final score was1-3.

So dreams of a cup final at Anfield, or Northampton Town's Sixfield Stadium, or Rushden & Diamonds, are over for another season, at least for our teams.

So too ends the scenic travelogue!