The power of the Celtic front five drove them on to victory after the game had been tied up at 17-17 by a Nico Setaro kick and the end of a highly competitive and entertaining 80 minutes in which the lead changed hands four times.
The visitors, from Division 1 West, ran in two first half tries, one of which came from a turn-over in their own 22 and was returned with interest, and led 14-10 at the break. Scott Sainsbury kicked an early penalty for the home side, from Division 2 West Central, and then sent in centre Kristian Jenkins for a try.
He then added the extras to a driving line-out score from flanker Jonathan Davies to edge the home team 17-14 in front. Then came Setaro’s late penalty to force the game to go into added time.
That’s when the raw power of the Celtic pack came into play and after opting from a scrum from a penalty in the Whitland 22 they shunted the visiting eight backwards at a rate of knots to earn a vital penalty try.
Sainsbury then added a 45 metre penalty to open up a 10 point lead before Whitland conjured up another long range try that once again showcased their attacking potential. Setaro added the conversion, but that was as close as they got as they went out 27-24.
Holders Brecon, who are bidding to become the first club to win the Plate back-to-back, were handed a walkover with scheduled opponents Ynysybwl unable to raise a side. Last season’s runners-up Bonymaen saw off Tondu 37-15 to safely reach round three.
Rhys Leonard scored twice with Joe Yeates, Dan Clement and Gareth Andrew also going over. Lawrence Thomas added three conversions and a penalty to complete the home scoring at Parc Mawr.
Another team hoping to return to the final are Rhydyfelin, beaten finalists of six years ago. The Village are also through after overcoming Ynysddu 26-12 thanks to two tries from Josh Hawkins and touchdowns from Scott Pritchard and David Gratton – who also added three conversions.
There was high drama on the Common at Dinas Powys where Matthew Edwards drove the final nail into the home side’s coffin with a penalty with the last kick of the game to seal a 33-31 win for Birchgrove.
Edwards ended the game with 18 points, including one of his sides’ four tries, but none were as crucial as his final penalty. It was cruel luck for the home side, who had been behind for most of the match until Callum Bricknell landed his fifth penalty to hoist his side into a 31-30 lead.
Bricknell ended with 19 points as he converted two of Dinas’ three tries, a pair of which came from Rhys Evans, and after he had kicked his team in front victory looked possible. But it was not to be as Birchgrove, from Division 1 West, eventually went through thanks to further tries from Curt Davies, Adam Rowlands and Josh Key.
Former WRU Challenge Cup semi-finalists Newbridge won 29-3 at Carmarthen Athletic. Jimmy Gahan, who ran in four tries during the first round dismantling of Blaenavon, was once again on the scoresheet with Matthew McGovern, Sam Watkins and Matthew Davies the other Newbridge try scorers, while Robbie Turley kicked nine points.
Newcastle Emlyn, runners-up in 2015, booked their place in the next round with an emphatic 55-0 defeat of Nantgaredig. Emrys Davies, Llyr Jones and Sion Edwards were all at the double with Mike Jones, Steffan Evans and Llyr Davies also dotted. Shaun Leonard added five conversions.
Mountain Ash turned the tables on Rumney as they bounced back from their 28-20 home defeat in the league a week earlier to come out on top 14-13 at the same venue in the Plate. Adam Parry scored the vital try shortly after Rumney lost a player to the sin-bin and Morgan James kicked three penalties to complete the revenge mission.
Another Division 1 East Central team safely through are Porth Quins, who beat Gorseinon 31-12. Treorchy’s home clash with Bro Ffestiniog was postponed and will be played at a later date.
Bridgend Athletic were two strong for north Walians Bala as they powered into the next round on the back of tries from Sean Williams, Den Davies and Nathan Hollman in their 26-3 triumph. Luke Bevan added a conversion and three penalties.
The Division 1 East trio of Penallta, Nelson and Senghenydd all went through safely. Two-time former winners Penallta put 60 points on Dowlais, while Nelson triumphed 24-5 at Cambrian Welfare and Senghenydd were 26-3 winners at Newport HSOB.
Unbeaten Kenfig Hill, of Division 1 West Central, were too strong for Division 2 East Central side Cowbridge, going through on the back of a 34-18 win, while Maesteg Celtic needed extra-time to hold off Whitland after Nico Setaro had thrown the visitors a last gasp lifeline with a penalty to level things up at 7-17 at the end of normal time.
Celtic, a division below their visitors, then used their powerful scrum to settle the matter in the extra 20 minutes to run out 27-22 winners.
In the Bowl, Pontyclun’s red hot start to the season continued with their sixth straight win as they eased into the next round with an impressive 19-7 win at Abercrave. Top of the table in Division 3 East Central A, they added the scalp of the Abercrave to that of Llantwit Major they took in Round 1.
They will be one of four teams from their league definitely in the hat for the third round. Fairwater and Pentyrch both won, while last season’s Division 3 East Central B champions Canton received a bye.
Llanharan and Tylorstown will have to try again against Cefneithin and Mold after their games were called-off, while Cardiff Quins crashed out, beaten 34-3 at home by a powerful Aberavon Quins side, who are currently top of Division 3 East Central A. Skipper Alwyn Williams, Brett Thomas, Karl Larkworthy and Sean Curran grabbed the tries for Aberavon Quins, while Curran kicked 14 points.
Abercarn’s bid to bridge a 10-year gap from their last final appearance remains on track after coming through 22-15 at Penygroes, Fairwater flew the flag for Division 3 East Central A with a 33-7 home win over Rhyl, of Division 2 North.
The home pack picked up a pushover try and other scores from Liam Free, Ryan Young, Tom McAloon and Kyle Halley with McAloon converting four to complete the scoring.
Things are finally starting to pick up at Pentyrch, where they posted back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Having broken their duck in the league with a 29-7 home win over Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd they overcame Tonyrefail 17-3 to reach the third round.
Wattstown were beaten 36-13 at Bryncoch, while Caerau Ely’s trip to Pontrhydyfen was postponed.
In the Shield, Llanrumney picked up a great win at Llandrindod Wells, 14-10, and will go into the hat for the next round along with Cardiff Saracens, who received a bye. Whitchurch still have to meet Ogmore Vale after their game was postponed at the weekend due to the weather.
