Audio Special: Konica Minolta Cup semi-finals

Just four teams are left in the draw for the Konica Minolta Cup and there is just one more match to play to progress to the final to be held in the Millennium Stadium.

Only two teams can progress to the final on April 28th. Can Cup Kings Llanelli overcome first-time semi-finalists Llandovery? Will Bridgend get one over capital side Cardiff?All will be settled come Sunday evening but for now all anyone can do is anticipate the battles ahead – and that includes the players.

The WRU website spoke to some of the players at Thursday’s press conference at the Millennium Stadium. Click the links below to hear what they think about this weekend’s matches.

CUP WINNERS (1972-2006) – Llanelli 13; Cardiff 7; Neath 4; Pontypridd 3; Swansea 3; Newport 2; Bridgend 2;  Pontypool 1. (35 seasons)

CUP RUNNERS-UP (1972-2006) – Swansea 7; Neath 6; Llanelli 5; Bridgend 3; Cardiff 3; Pontypridd 3; Newport 3; Aberavon 2; Ebbw Vale 1; Pontypool 1; Caerphilly 1. (35 seasons)

CUP SEMI-FINALISTS (1972-2006) – won-lost – Llanelli 18-7; Cardiff 10-9; Swansea 10-6; Neath 10-3; Pontypridd 6-4; Bridgend 5-8; Newport 5-4; Aberavon 2-11; Pontypool 2-4; Ebbw Vale 1-6; Caerphilly 1-0; Maesteg 0-2; Cross Keys 0-1; Seven Sisters 0-1; Newbridge 0-4. (70 winners, 70 losers – 35 seasons)

KONICA MINOLTA CUP SEMI-FINALS 2007
Saturday April 14th
Llandovery v Llanelli (at the Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon)
Cup this season: Llandovery beat Nantyffyllon 50-10(h); Caerphilly 37-13(h); Bedwas 21-14(a).
Llanelli beat Seven Sisters 85-7(a); Newport 17-3(a); Pontypridd 37-30(h).
Previous meetings: Llanelli lead 2-1.
1984/85 Llanelli 42-4(a); 1993/94 Llanelli 57-5(h).2005/06 Llandovery won 29-21(h).
This season in league: Llandovery won 21-6 (home – 30/9/06). They meet at Llanelli on 21/4/07.
Llanelli have won 142 cup ties. 

Sunday April 15th.
Cardiff v Bridgend (at Sardis Road, Pontypridd)
Cup this season: Cardiff beat Narberth 69-14(h); Neath 12-10(a); Swansea 39-8(a).
Bridgend beat Abercynon 53-19(h); St Peter’s 66-3(h); Aberavon 20-19(a).
Previous meetings: Cardiff lead 5-1.
Cardiff won: 1973/74 21-18(a); 1980/81 14-6 (FINAL); 1981/82 12-12(on tries-FINAL); 1985/86 17-9 (semi); 1993/94 15-6(h).
Bridgend won – 1974/75 6-4(a); 
This season in league: Cardiff won 24-21 (home – 16/9/06); Bridgend won 14-5 (home – 9/12/06).
Cardiff have won 125 cup-ties; Bridgend won 101.