Cardiff and Merthyr set for epic Cup final clash at Principality Stadium

Later in the day the cup holders Merthyr battled against losing wing Terri Gee to a red card to pip WRU National Championship winners Pontypool 20-18 with a last-gasp penalty from Matthew Jarvis to set up a thrilling final at Principality Stadium between the top two teams in the Principality Premiership on Sunday, 28 April.

“I’m over the moon for the players, the coaches, the club, all the supporters and everybody involved with it. Cardiff is a massive club steeped in history and the boys did it proud,” said head coach Steve Law.

“Llandovery have got great skill sets and they took advantage of any chink in our set up. They were always going to play for 80 minutes, but I thought we were comfortable winners by the end of it.

“When we’re under pressure, the boys are finding a way out of it. That’s testament to the hard work that they put in through the week – they believe in each other, believe in what they are doing in training and stick to it.”

In what was a repeat of the 2007 showpiece won by Llandovery, tries from hooker and skipper Joey Tomlinson, making his 100th appearance, No8 Morgan Allen, outside half Gareth Thompson and a brace from full-back Edd Howley made sure it was the Blue & Blacks who prevailed this time.

It was also a 12th straight win for Premiership and cup double chasing Cardiff. More importantly it was a first win in three attempts against the Drovers this season having been beaten at Church Banks and being forced into a draw at the Arms Park.

Cardiff drew first blood in the fourth minute through Tomlinson with the try converted by Thompson,  who soon added a penalty. Jack Maynard kicked a penalty for Llandovery, but Cardiff were soon over again when wing Joe Gatt sent Allen through.

Full-back Howley then scored a third Cardiff try in the 22nd minute only for Llandovery to respond through centre Rhodri Jones. Maynard added the extras to cut the gap to 20-10 at the break.

It was very nearly the perfect start to the second half for Cardiff as Will Rees-Hole looked to have broken a couple of challenges to force his way over before losing control of the ball, and then flanker Tom Daley was denied a try.

But when Howley touched down for his second, and Cardiff’s fourth try, four minutes into the second half it looked as though it was all over. Back came the Drovers, though, and scrum-half Lee Rees ran in for a great try on 48 minutes that Maynard converted to pull his side back to within eight points.

Thompson’s second penalty eased Cardiff’s concerns before he intercepted a Llandovery pass to race away for a fifth try. The conversion took his match tally to 15 points and condemned the Drovers to back-to-back semi-final defeats.

Merthyr full back Jarvis was the hero for the Ironmen at Eugene Cross Park as he kept his cool to kick the vital matchwinning penalty and set up a Blues Regional derby in the final as they seek to complete the double-double.

“There was a bit of a wind, so I knew if I struck it well it was going over. I just had to back myself,” said Jarvis, who had missed with a penalty five minutes earlier.

“It was a bit nip and tuck and obviously the red card didn’t help us. We went into a 14-0 lead and, in fairness to Pontypool, they are a good side, came back and didn’t give up.

“We knew it was going to be tough and it was a classic semi-final cup tie. Credit to them for that and we’re just glad to go through.”

It was a case of so near yet so far for Pooler as, having battled back from 14-0 down, they finally lost their unbeaten record this season to Jarvis’ late shot. The Ironmen had to play the entire second half with 14 men after Gee’s sending off on the stroke of half-time.

“We wanted to put in a performance of which the boys, their families and the supporters could be proud. I think we can take a lot out of that game,” said Pontypool head coach Leighton Jones.

“Merthyr are a good team, the strongest in Welsh rugby, so for us to come and push them that far, I think the boys can be proud of that. If you start the game 14 points down against any Premiership team, let alone Merthyr, then you’re giving yourselves a tough job.”

Dale McIntosh’s side made a slow start, but once they got going they scored two tries to race into a 14 point lead. The opening try came on five minutes when Gee chipped the ball over Geraint Walsh and got to it first to crash over.

Jarvis was on target with the conversion and also added the extras to a classic Merthyr driving line-out try from James Howe. But Scott Matthews hauled Pooler back into the game with a try and outside half Matthew Lewis added two penalties before the break to cut the gap to three points.

The first-half ended on a sour note for both teams with Gee given his marching orders for leading with his forearm on Lloyd Lewis, who was unable to continue.

Pontypool then took the lead for the first time after the break thanks to a second Matthews’ try that this time was converted by Lewis.