Their hard-fought victory over their SSE Swalec Division 1 East Central rivals earned them a home clash with Penclawdd in the fourth round. It w the third time the two teams had met this season and once again Ystrad came out on top.
They were 34-10 winners on their home turf in their last league meeting and had drawn 15-15 at the Squirrel’s home in September. Now they are just two wins away from returning to the Principality Stadium to defend their title.
The Division 1 East Central leaders, Glamorgan Wanderers, had to dig deep to beat Trebanos 10-3 in a game of five yellow and two red cards that at one stage saw 12 home men facing 14 visiting players. The tight tussle often spilled over and the game was locked at 0-0 at half-time.
Dan Crimmins, who had earlier had a 10 minute spell on the sidelines, scored the try that eventually broke the deadlock and Codey Rees added the conversion to hoist the home side into a 7-0 lead. Rees added a penalty to make the game safe, while Trebanos managed one penalty of their own.
The Wanderers will now travel to Bedlinog, who are fourth in Division 1 East. Two top two teams from that division, Ynysybwl and Penallta, ensured they stayed on course for a trip to the Principality Stadium with fourth rounds victories that earned them a ticket into the quarter-finals.
Ynysybwl were 34-10 home victors’ over Rumney at the Recreation ground. Joseph Williams scored 14 points for ‘Bwl including a try, while other tries came from Alun Thomas, Dewi Voyle and a brace for Corey James.
Penallta, semi-finalists last season, romped to a 29-6 victory at Rhydyfelin. They ran in four tries as they eased to victory – wing Elliot Keet scored a double while full-back Ryan Davies and centre Andrew Jenkins also went over for The Pitmen in a convincing win.
Whitland followed up their victory over Bonymaen in round three with a 10-6 home win over the 2014 Swalec Bowl champions CR Cymry Caerdydd to join Ynysybwl and Penallta in the last eight. Wing Sean Coles went over for a try for the home side and outside half Lee Setaro converted and added a penalty to seal the victory.
Skewen put an end to North Wales interest in the Plate as they beat Bala 24-16 on the road to set up a fourth round home clash with Risca, while Treorchy’s reward for their 21-13 victory at Dunvant is a fourth round meeting with high-flying Ammanford at home.
There were three games in the fifth round of the SSE Swalec Bowl. Abercarn thumped Birchgrove 39-5 away at Parc Bedw with hooker Aaron Davies scored twice for the visitors and with back row man Lewis James, wing Nicky Lloyd and prop Nathan Curtis also crossing.
Bynea ran out 19-15 winners over Oakdale despite going 12-0 down inside the first 10 minutes. Tumble beat Markham 26-17 at Parc y Mynydd Mawr thanks to tries from Nicholas Allinson, Leighton McKenna and Iwan Morgan and eight points from the boot of Steven Hewitt.
There was drama in the fourth round matches as Burry Port went through on try count after a 13-13 draw against Cowbridge and Taffs Well triumphed over Fairwater after extra time, 18-16, to earn a home clash with Swansea Uplands in the fifth round.
A penalty from outside half Jams Dixon levelled the scores at 13-13 at the end of normal time, but the home side then landed a third penalty to regain the lead at 16-13 in extra-time. No 8 Max Watkins then turned into the match-winner for unbeaten Taffs Well as he crashed over for the match-winning try with two minutes left to go on the lock.
Old Illtydians also progressed into the fifth round after beating Penybanc 30-13. In the third round, Brynithel, Haverfordwest and Glyncoch all won through to the next round.
SSE Swalec Plate Results
Round 3
Bala 16 24 Skewen
Dunvant 13 21 Treorchy
Glam Wands 10 3 Trebanos
Pencoed 30 33 Cwmllynfell
Rhiwbina 6 18 Ystrad Rhondda
Round 4
Rhydyfelin 6 29 Penallta
Whitland 10 6 CR Cymry Caerdydd
Ynysybwl 34 10 Rumney
SSE Swalec Plate Round 4 Draw
Skewen v Risca
Bedlinog v Glamorgan Wanderers
Treorchy v Ammanford
Llangennech v Cwmllynfell
Ystrad Rhondda v Penclawdd
* Already through to quarter-finals Penallta, Whitland, Ynysybwl
SSE Swalec Bowl Results
Round 3
Brynithel 44 16 Ogmore Vale
Cardiff Meds 0 17 Haverfordwest
Glyncoch 22 17 Vardre
Round 4
Burry Port 13 13 Cowbridge (Burry Port won on try count)
Fairwater 16 18 Taffs Well (a.e.t.)
Penybanc 13 30 Old Illtydians
Round 5
Birchgrove 5 39 Abercarn
Oakdale 15 19 Bynea
Tumble 26 17 Markham
