Keys kept their slim hopes of qualification for the quarter finals alive with a 30-10 defeat of Ealing Trailfinders while Llanelli got the better of Bedford Blues with an impressive 44-15 victory.
At Pandy Park, two penalty tries sent Cross Keys on the way to a bonus point victory with Jonathan Evans and Ryan Lee also crossing. The inform Dorian Jones added two conversions and two penalties as Greg Woods’ men kept up their impressive recent form.
The Trailfinders had actually started well, moving into an early 3-0 lead via a penalty from fly half Andy Hall. Jones soon levelled things up and Keys then moved ahead when scrum half Evans dived over for the first try of the day.
Tom Bedford’s try narrowed the gap for Ealing before Jones’ up and under caused havoc in the visiting defence. The upshot was a yellow card for Trailfinders’ wing Owen Bruynseels and a penalty try which Jones converted for an 18-10 half time lead.
Keys started the second half well and soon had a one man advantage once again – visiting full back Andrew Henderson sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Nathan Williams. Down to 14, Ealing soon shipped a second penalty score as their scrum caved in after a number of repeated set pieces.
And the bonus point try soon arrived, Lee marking his return to the black colours with a fine individual effort to complete the win.
In Pool 2, qualification for the quarter finals looks set to go down to the wire with Pontypridd, London Scottish and London Welsh all in with a shot of a place in the last eight. The Sardis Road club went down to a narrow 26-23 defeat to London Welsh at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford on Sunday but a late try from centre Garyn Smith, which secured a losing bonus point, could yet prove crucial.
The result means Pontypridd are still in contention going into this weekend’s final round of fixtures. They will be hoping for a bonus point win over Edinburgh Academicals this Saturday and cross their fingers that London Welsh defeat London Scottish. Whatever happens, Pool 2 looks the tightest in the competition going into the final round of fixtures.
Aberavon were outgunned by inform Bristol back Andy Short, the former Worcester man crossing for a hat-trick in a 64-8 victory for the English side. Short had scored four tries in four pool matches prior to yesterday’s fixture and added three more in another superb display. Nicky Thomas’ try and a penalty from Ross Jones were Aberavon’s only consolation.
