The Ironmen will have special insight into what it takes to achieve that goal given their head coach Dale McIntosh was in charge of Pontypridd during that successful period.
Defending Cup holders Merthyr overcame Pontypridd 23-11 at The Wern in the quarter-finals, but lost livewire scrum-half Justin James to a broken ankle in the process.
“The Pontypool game is going to be massive. They’ve signed well and I know the make-up of their squad – they have some very, very good rugby players there,” said McIntosh.
“They’ve been unbeaten for a long time and were excellent against Bridgend. They’re known for their intimidation, so we need to be streetwise, smart, and not react to their antics.
“It will be a tough game of rugby and we respect their team because Pontypool are a great club and always have been. They deserve to be at the top, and I hope they are at the top, but not at our expense.”
It was an even contest between two of the Principality Premiership bigwigs, but Merthyr prevailed thanks to tries scrum-half Rhys Downes and wing Teri Gee before flanker Osian Davies made victory secure. Merthyr’s journey to the last-four stage began with a stern test at Aberavon in round one in January. McIntosh’s men escaped with a 15-10 success.
Former Aberavon and Ospreys wing Jay Baker came back to haunt his old team-mates by creating second-half tries for Lewis Williams and Matthew Jarvis despite Merthyr being reduced to 13 men at one point after the break with Phil Rees and Jarvis both yellow carded.
“It will be a tough game of rugby and we respect their team because Pontypool are a great club and always have been. They deserve to be at the top, and I hope they are at the top, but not at our expense
Round two saw Merthyr forced to compete in an equally tight affair. A penalty try in the 12th minute of added time finally tipped the scale in favour of the Ironmen as they got the better of Ebbw Vale 10-9 in a thrilling encounter on home soil.
Merthyr couldn’t have left it any later to hit back from 9-3 down when a second power scrum from five metres out finally convinced referee Elgan Williams to run under the posts and give the home side victory in the last play of the game.
Full-back Jarvis had kicked a fifth-minute penalty into the wind to give his side the lead, but after that it was the ever-reliable boot of Rhys Jones that looked like it had steered the Steelmen into the last eight. Jones booted two penalties and a drop goal, but Merthyr were not to be denied in the dying embers as they made the most of a yellow card for Ebbw hooker Joe Franchi.
Route to the Semi-Finals
Round 1: Aberavon 10-15 Merthyr
Round 2: Merthyr 10-9 Ebbw Vale
Q-F: Merthyr 20-11 Pontypridd
Merthyr (v Pontypool): Matthew Jarvis; Teri Gee, Aron Pinches, Adam Thomas, Kyle Evans; Gareth Davies, Rhys Downes; James Howe, Rhys Williams, Joe Rees, Ben Murphy, Craig Locke (captain), Jake Thomas, Osian Davies, Phil Rees
Reps: Matt Dwyer, Cal Phillips, Louis Jones, Hemi Barnes, J Davies, Adam Hoskins, Josh Martin, Harry Davies
