The Ironmen, last season’s National Championship winners, ran out 40-14 victors’ over Ebbw Vale in Pool 3 to take an unassailable eight point lead over Bargoed at the top of the table. They travel to Sardis Road to face reigning champions Pontypridd in next week’s final pool match.
Merthyr ran in six tries against the Steelmen to notch a third win of the season over the Principality Premiership champions. And this time they did it with a side boasting 11 players in their match day squad on permit from Brecon (3), Bedlinog (3), Abercynon (2), Cardiff Met (1), Monmouth (1) and Ynysybwl (1).
The first home try went in after only four minutes when left wing Jake Crockett cross the Ebbw line. There were two more before the break as Merthyr built up a 19-7 interval lead and then three more in the second half.
Dean Gunter knocked over five conversions before he left the fray and Owen Howe ensured there was a full house when he added the extras to an 80th minute try from Jarryd Davies. Ebbw Vale, who also had 11 permit players, replied with two tries of their own.
Full back Callum Jones was the last-gasp hero for Bargoed as they notched a notable Challenge Cup double over Pontypridd with an 18-15 win at Sardis Road. Jones stepped up to hit the target with a 79th minute penalty that snatched victory for the visitors’ right at the death after tries from Ross Coombs and Louis Blaker, both of which Jones converted.
It will be a winner-takes-all tie in the final game in Pool 1 when Bedwas travel to Rodney Parade to face Newport next week. Cross Keys completed their four games with a 31-24 home win over Bedwas to move one point clear of Newport at the top of the pool, but it wasn’t enough to earn them a trip into the last four.
The pool winner will come from the last fixture, whether it is a draw or a win for either side. Bedwas, who were beaten by Pontypridd in last year’s final, will be hoping to go all the way this time and they are currently three points behind Keys and two behind Newport.
Keys got off to a flying start at Pandy Park with the first of their five tries coming in the opening minute from right wing Matt Powell. That helped them to build up a 19-12 lead by half-time, with further tries coming from Phil Williams and James McCarthy, but it was nip and tuck throughout.
James S Dixon and Dan Crimmins scored first-half tries for the visitors to keep them in touch before Keys romped into a 31-12 lead thanks to two more tries from Robert Jones and Ross Pritchard. But 12 points in a six minute purple patch from Bedwas, including tries from Matthew John and Tom Bell, set up a tense final 10 minutes for the home fans and ensured the visitors left with two vital bonus points.
Carmarthen Quins are still in control of Pool 2 despite going down to a 34-12 home defeat to Llandovery. It was a victory that kept the Drovers in the hunt for a semi-final place, although they are still three points behind the Quins.
It was a first defeat in the Challenge Cup this season for Quins. Semi-finalists last year, it means Quins they will have to win their final game against Llanelli next week to guarantee a place in the last four.
Llandovery, meanwhile, travel to Swansea knowing that they must win at St Helen’s to stand any chance of going through. They also have to hope that Llanelli can do them a favour by not losing to Quins.
The Drovers were always in control as they took revenge for their 19-13 home defeat last month. They were 20 points ahead by the break and went on to score four tries despite having Ammanford wing Steff Pryce-Griffiths sent to the sin-bin in the first-half.
Narberth centre Jack Price scored two of the Llandovery tries – Joe Powell and Jack Parkinson got the others – and outside half James Davies kicked 14 points. The Quins hit back at the start of the second half with tries from Iolo Evans and Ifan Beynon-Thomas to cut the gap to eight points, but that was as good as it got for the home side.
Llanelli fell foul of a dramatic second half fightback from Swansea as they let a 26-14 interval lead turn into a 40-33 defeat. With a try bonus point in the bag by the break, thanks to tries from Thomas Howell, Ashley Evans and Craig Thomas, it looked for all the world that the Scarlets would condemn their arch-rivals to a fifth successive defeat in the Challenge Cup.
Tries from Will Lewis and Chris James, both converted by Jac Wilson, had given the home fans plenty to shout about as the All Whites raced into a 14-0 lead after only 17 minutes, but then came that four try salvo from Llanelli to build up a seven point lead by the break. But the game turned when Llanelli lost flanker Nathan Hart to the sin-bin.
While Llanelli were reduced to 14 men, Swansea turned up the heat and scored three more tries to race into a 35-21 lead. Rory Gallagher, Ryan Evans and Rhodri Wells bagged the tries and Wilson converted all three.
The home advantage was extended to 19 points when Josh Jones added a sixth try with seven minutes to go, but Llanelli hit back with two tries in three minutes from Gwion Jones and Matthew Flanagan. Jonathan Rogers converted one of them to make it a one score game in the final minute.
Cardiff reached the semi-finals last season, but their 24-15 home defeat at the hands of Bridgend in Round 5 means they have only mustered one win this season. They head to Aberavon next week for a vital fixture for the home side, who are currently one point behind the Ravens at the top of the table.
Tries from Jamie Murphy, Nicky Boyce and Joe Gatt ensured the Ravens completed the double over Cardiff, while it was only a 74th minute try from Luke Ford that added some respectability to the scoreline for the home side.
Kidwelly wing Shaun Pearce scored two of Aberavon’s five tries in their thrilling 33-31 win over Neath at The Gnoll that kept alive their hopes of reaching the final four. Two early tries earned the Wizards a 14-3 lead, but two tries in four minutes from Scott Hicks helped to edge Neath ahead.
The home side lost Tom Hayward to the sin-bin five minutes after the break and a try from Rob Dudley-Jones a minute later gave Aberavon a 26-20 lead. Two penalties from Rory Morgan-Williams then levelled the scores at 26-26 just after the hour mark and the game hug in the balance.
But a 74th minute try from replacement hooker Jakob Williams, coupled with a fourth Steff Williams conversion of the night, gave the Wizards the edge moving into the closing minutes. There was still some late drama to come as Geraint Llewellyn crossed for the bonus-point try for Neath to give Morgan-Williams a last minute conversion attempt to level the scores again.
His kick failed to find the mark, however, and Aberavon hung on to stay in the hunt for the semi-finals. They host Cardiff at the Talbot Athletic Ground in Round 6.
Foster’s Challenge Cup – Round 5 Results
Pool 1: Cross Keys 31, Bedwas 24
Pool 2: Carmarthen Quins 12, Llandovery 34; Swansea 40, Llanelli 33
Pool 3: Merthyr 40, Ebbw Vale 14; Pontypridd 14, Bargoed 17
Pool 4: Cardiff 15, Bridgend 24; Neath 31, Aberavon 33
