It may only have been 12-0 at half-time, but the Drovers simply had no answer to the power of Ponty up front and then their pace behind. Four second half tries followed the two in the first and three conversions completed the rout.
If they can reach a fifth successive final they will match the achievement of the great Llanelli sides of the seventies who played in the first five finals, winning a record four on the trot. If they can hold onto the title then they will become only the second club to win a hat-trick of finals, following on from Llanelli’s victories in 1973-76 (4) and 1991-93 (3).
It is shaping into another remarkable season for the Sardis Road club, who have lost only once in 17 Principality Premiership games and are now three out of three in the cup. They did doubles over London Scottish and Connacht A in the British & Irish Cup and lost twice to the fully professional Bristol Rugby and then Worcester Warriors in the quarter-final.
With six cup wins (1996, 2002, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014) and five defeats, Ponty are seeking to join Cardiff on seven wins. They are third on the list of all-time finalists – Llanelli lead the way with 14 wins and six defeats (20), while Neath are second with six wins and seven defeats (13).
Cross Keys v Bedwas
Cross Keys coach Greg Woods had predicted a tough arm wrestle against Bedwas and he wasn’t disappointed in a game that ended 13-7 in favour of the 2012 cup winners to see them through to their third SSE SWALEC Cup semi-final in four years.
A tight first-half saw Keys take their one big chance when centre Phil Williams charged down Bedwas full back Harley Thomson’s kick which was gathered by home skipper Leon Andrews who raced to the posts from 40 metres for the opening points of the game.
That score came four minutes before the break, but outside half Ethan Davies was unable to add the extras when the ball fell off the tee as he took his run up. The home side squandered another gilt edged opportunity just before half-time, but Williams raced clear nine minutes into the second half for the second try.
But Bedwas, who had already beaten their hosts twice this season, hit back in style moments later when wing Matthew John finished a thrilling move with a try that Richard Powell converted to cut the gap to three points.
Powell then missed with missed a penalty on the hour and things got worse for the visitors when replacement back row man Dan Crimmins had a yellow card issued by referee Rhys Thomas for coming into a ruck from the side increased to red after some back chat. He had only been on the pitch for 14 minutes and left his side a man down for the closing seven.
As the pressure mounted, so Keys delivered the killer blow with a penalty from near half-way by Davies that took them six points clear and into the last four.
Carmarthen Quins v Newport
Newport threw the kitchen sink at Carmarthen Quins, even leading 21-10 for a while in the first half, but finally had to settle for second best in an exciting tussle that saw the mighty Quins march into the last four with a 30-21 triumph.
It was nip and tuck in the early with both sides grabbing tries. Dai Pattison responded to Craig Evans’ third minute penalty for the home side with the first of Newport’s three tries, but then Iolo Evans crossed to make it 10-7 to Quins.
Newport responded with a second try from Llwarch ap Myrddin and Dom Franchi added Newport’s third minutes later. Geraint O’Driscoll’s trusty boot supplied the conversions and the visitors were 21-10 to the good.
Craig Evans reduced the gap on the stroke of half-time with a second penalty for the home side and then brought his side to within one score with a third success from long range at the start of the second half. The same then turned on a stunning interception try from Rhys Williams which allowed Evans to put the Quins ahead once again with his conversion, 23-21.
Five minutes later Dion Evans skipped away for Quins’ third try and Craig Evans took his match tally up to 15 points with another conversion to make victory safe.
Bridgend Ravens v Merthyr
Merthyr flew the flag bravely for the Championship clubs before they went down 20-17 at the Brewery Field against Bridgend Ravens. Both sides scored three tries, but it was a penalty from the boot of James Dixon that ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.
The visitors got off to a flying start when they scored a try through Matthew Trowbridge within two minutes of the start, but the Ravens were ahead 13-12 at the break thanks to that Dixon and tries from Owen Howe and Mike Powell.
A penalty try, converted by Howe, stretched the lead to 20-12 before Merthyr hit back at the death with a second try for Trowbridge. It will be the first time in eight years that Bridgend have played in the semi-finals.
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