The SWALEC Championship side pushed their illustrious hosts all the way, but suffered badly when two players received yellow cards. In the 20 minutes they were reduced to 14 men, barged conceded three tries.
It didn’t help the visitors cause that they lost full back Andrew McLauchlin to injury as soon as he had scored a try, but they never gave up and made Neath work hard for their ticket into the last four. Now they will be hoping to go all the way to their 13th final at the Millennium Stadium.
Jamie Davies finally notched his 4,000th point for Aberavon as he helped the Wizards overcome Swansea at St Helen’s, 23-16. Swansea twice let the lead slip from their grasp and suffered playing into the strong wind in the second half.
Davies scored 13 points on the day, but it was the strong running of centre Matthew Jenkins that did for the All Whites as he broke their line twice to cross for a brace of tries.
The other two quarter-finals were postponed on Saturday, although Blackwood and Carmartehn Quins were able to re-arrange on Sunday. Quins ran out 32-14 winners, while Ebbw Vale and Pontypridd will have to find another date.
In the SWALEC Plate, Kidwelly couldn’t overturn a 14-3 half time deficit as Cwmllynfell cruised their way into the semis with a 22-13 victory. Two second half tries from Kidwelly couldn’t claw back a first half brace from Crystal Lewis which set the away side up for the win.
Five tries from Ystrad Rhondda smashed Felinfoel out of the competition 28-5, while two penalties from Mike Huckridge helped Heol y Cyw knock out Pill Harriers 11-3. Rhydyfelin narrowly progressed into the next round, coming away 18-13 victors at Llantrisant.
In the two Bowl fixtures to go ahead, Fishguard outside half James Griffiths clinched a last gasp winner and kicked the side into the semi finals. Away side Pontycymmer scored two tries to level the score at 16-16 with three minutes remaining, but the late penalty gave Fishgaurd a 19-16 win needed to progress.
It was equally tight at Wattstown as Ben Evans and Glen Slater crossed over to squeeze the homeside past Nantyglo; after a tense finish, it ended 18-16 to the Ducks.
