Leading 22-15 with full time up, twice Ponty backs Owen Jenkins and Simon Humberstone kicked the ball dead thinking referee Craig Maxwell would blow for full time, but twice play continued.
Seven minutes into added extra time, winger Andrew Boyle scored Leinster’s third try which Carl Marsh converted to send the game into extra time.
With neither side unable to break the deadlock when the match went into extra time, the full-time Irish side claimed the semi-final honours due to scoring three tries compared to Ponty’s solitary effort from Joel Raikes who darted over in the first spell.
Defeat will be a bitter pill to swallow for Paul John’s gutsy side who were just seconds away from earning that coveted final spot.
Ponty’s part-timers put in a huge defensive effort thoughout and despite being on the backfoot in the dying stages as Leinster went for the jugular, the home side refused to budge but due to a lack of clear-cut scoring opportunities, weren’t able to trouble the scoreboard attendant which enabled Leinster to go through in an absorbing contest.
Raikes’ try and three penalties by Humberstone had put Ponty into a 16-12 halftime lead with Leinster responding with tries by Brendan Macken and Ben Marshall with the remaining points coming courtesy of Marsh’s boot.
Marsh and Humberstone exchanged kicks at goal and when the Ponty fly half added two further penalties the match had swung in Ponty’s favour.
But Boyle’s late effort extinguished any hopes Pontypridd had of making the final.
Scorers:
Pontypridd: Try: Raikes; Cons: Humberstone; Pens: Humberstone (5)
Leinster A: Tries: Macken, Marshall, Boyle: Convs: Marsh (2); Pen: Marsh
