The Super Rygbi Cymru quarter-final line up is confirmed after Carmarthen Quins and Bridgend Ravens booked their spots by winning their respective play-off eliminators.
Quins’ reward for their 25-21 home victory over Pontypool is a trip to SRC regular season table toppers Cardiff while Bridgend, who edged Aberavon 13-10, are heading to Ebbw Vale in the last eight.
The other ties next Saturday see defending champions Newport hosting Swansea, while Llandovery entertain RGC at Church Bank.
A last gasp try from centre Jac Howells snatched victory for the Quins over Pontypool at Carmarthen Park in a clash of the sides finishing seventh and 10th respectively in the league.
Moments earlier it looked as if Pooler, who fought back from 8-0 and 18-7 down, had won it when talismanic back-rower Scott Matthews piled over for their third try in the closing stages, adding to one in each half from centre Marcus Jones. Kieran Meek converted all three tries.
But in the end, it would be Quins celebrating courtesy of Howells’ individual effort with time all but up. Wing Iori Badham and hooker Lewis Morgan also scored for Carmarthen. Steff Jac Jones added their other 10 points from the tee.
Next up for Quins is a trip to the Arms Park, where they have already won this season. The league meeting between the sides went the west Walians’ way 36-33 back in September and Carmarthen have won two of their three encounters with the Blue & Blacks in league and cup this season.
“It’s a free shot for us,” said Carmarthen director of rugby Steff Thomas. “It’s first against seventh in the league and nobody would be expecting us to do anything, but we’re going to go up there and give it a good crack and see where that takes us.
“We’ve got everything to be confident about. We’ve had two excellent wins on the bounce against Ebbw Vale and Pontypool and we’re going up there in buoyant mood.”
Bridgend came from behind to defeat Ospreylian rivals Aberavon 13-10 in dreadful conditions at the Talbot Athletic Ground. A late penalty from replacement Lloyd Wilkins settled a rain-soaked, error-strewn play-off eliminator.
Scott Delveno had kicked the Wizards into an early lead and then converted scrum-half Elis Horgan’s try to extend their advantage to 10-0. Bridgend hit back on the stroke of half time with a try from full-back Edd Howley, moments after Aberavon had been reduced to 14 men when loosehead prop Jordan Walters was yellow carded.
Wing Mccauley Rowley scored a second Ravens try just after the hour, which again went unconverted. Wilkins, though, would be successful from the tee to seal victory for the visitors.
Ebbw have beaten Bridgend on all three occasions they’ve met so far this season but, having marched to 12 wins from 13, the Steelmen’s form has slumped since the league resumed after the SRC Cup block.
They lost four of their last five league matches and were pipped at the post for top spot by Cardiff on the final day. Ravens head coach Scott Baldwin feels his side are in a good place heading to Eugene Cross Park.
“I’m hoping the weather is better and allows us to actually put our game on the park, Building-up to the play-offs we spoke about performances over results, but we knew against Aberavon it was about performance and a result,” said Baldwin.
“It was probably our ugliest performance, but what I was most pleased with is that we kept trying to play rugby, even though the conditions were poor.
“We’ve probably flipped in terms of momentum and we’re going up there to put pressure on Ebbw Vale on the back of a tough few results.
“We’re using the fact that we’ve had another game as a bonus; it’s been another opportunity for us to get better.”
The winner of that tie will then face either Swansea or Newport in the semi-finals. The winner of Cardiff and Carmarthen Quins will face either Llandovery or RGC in the other semi.
Home advantage in the semis will go to the sides who finished higher in the league standings.
Super Rygbi Cymru quarter-finals
- QF1: Cardiff (1st place) v Carmarthen Quins at Cardiff Arms Park; 14:30
- QF2: Llandovery (4th place) v RGC (5th place) at Church Bank; 17:00 – Live on S4C
- QF3: Ebbw Vale (2nd place) v Bridgend at CiNER Glass Community Stadium; 14:30
- QF4: Newport (3rd place) v Swansea (6th place) at Newport Stadium; 14:30