“Neath are a good side, and it could have gone either way. Going in 6-0 up at half time, and with that wind, it didn’t feel as though we had scored enough points,” said Jarvis.
“But we’ve got that togetherness and a game plan and when we went out for the second half it all came to fruition. We spread the ball, played with a bit of tempo and scored a nice try at the end as well.
Pontypool’s 26-9 victory earned them the right to face Ystrad Rhondda in the final at Principality Stadium on Sunday, 23 April. It was the third time this season Pooler had managed to overcome their closest rivals for the Admiral Championship title, but they didn’t get things their own way throughout a classic cup tie.
Pontypool’s Deon Smith takes on the Neath defence in the semi-final of the WRU Championship Cup at Eugene Cross Park (Pic: Simon Latham)
The win means Leighton Jones side will be heading back to the home of Welsh rugby 40 years on from their first WRU Challenge Cup win at the old National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park.
A try on the stroke of time from wing Deon Smith made victory safe in a game in which defences ruled the roost for long periods. Steff Williams kicked three out of four penalty shots for Neath in the second half after the opening 40 minutes had ended 6-0 in Pooler’s favour.
Two penalties from Jarvis edged the unbeaten Championship leaders ahead before Garin Price scored five minutes after coming on as a second half replacement. His try from a driving line-out was improved by Jarvis to make it 13-0.
Neath went for broke, but Smith was put over by Joel Mahony for a try that Jarvis converted to complete the victory.
Back in the Championship, third placed Bargoed saw their home game with Ystalyfera fall foul of the weather, but cup finalists Ystrad Rhondda beat both the weather and local rivals Beddau to triumph 19-12 away from home.
Cole Morgan, Josh Williams and Jarrad Llewellyn all come up with first-half tries as Ystrad burst into a 19 point lead. Williams also converted one of the tries to make it 19-0 at the break.
Beddau battled back in what turned out to be a game of two halves. Ystrad lost their outside half, Liam Greening, to injury and had to reshuffle their back division. Then they lost prop Tom Foulkes to a yellow card at the death.
Beddau got back into the game with a try from Sam Edwards that Mitch Jones improved and finally grabbed a consolation score, and a losing bonus-point, when Liam Jones crashed over at the death.
Glamorgan Wanderers had to come from behind at home against Cross Keys before winning 32-26.
Connah Vaughan twice and Tom Gillsepie crossed for tries for Keys to earn then 19-12 lead before the home side drew level, went ahead with two penalties, but then fell behind 26-25 before a final try earned them victory.
