Llandovery are eying a second SWALEC Cup trophy in four years after being matched to face Aberavon in the semi-finals.
The Drovers still look back on their 2007 success over Cardiff with huge pride but must first resist the powerful challenge of Aberavon on the weekend of April 9.
The Wizards have already recorded a league double over Llandovery this season and look set for a top five finish in the Premier Division while Llandovery have struggled for most of the league term and lie just one place off the bottom.
Outside-half Cerith Rees was the star of the Drovers 23-13 quarter-final win at Tonmawr with a try, two conversions and three penalties.
The Wizards survived a late rally from Cardiff to edge home 19-17 at the Arms Park with Chris Lewis crossing for a brace and Matthew Jarvis slotting home three penalties. Little surprise then that Aberavon captain Chris Davies believes all is well with the Wizards.
“It’s my fourth season at the club and the third cup semi-final which is excellent. All the players and coaches are determined to go one step further and get to the final this year and it was that determination which helped us overcome Cardiff,” said flanker Davies.
“We are pleased with the draw but would have taken anyone as you have to beat these sides to win the Cup anyway. Llandovery are a top side and I am sure they will be up for the occasion.”
Pontypridd have contested three of the last six finals but to make it to the Millennium Stadium once more they must prevent a Swansea outfit determined to make their first appearance in the showpiece event in 11 years.
Under the guidance of club stallwart and cup veteran Dale McInotsh, Ponty are on course for an historic treble.
They survived a scare against Merthyr in the last round but have booked a place in the last four of the British & Irish Cup and have already registered a 39-28 victory at St Helen’s to top the Principality Premiership.
They were made to work hard by SWALEC One East side Merthyr in the quarter-final before recording a 38-30 success thanks to tries from Matthew Nuttall (2), Dean Gunter and former Wales international Gareth Wyatt.
“It was a great match against two valley sides and to a certain extent it was Merthyr’s cup final,” said Pontypridd flanker Ed Siggery.
“We didn’t deserve to win and could have slipped up but we came through in the end.
“We are still looking to win all three of our competitions but everyone wants to win this one now and as I won the SWALEC Cup last season with Llanelli, I would love to be on the winning side again.”
Swansea’s last appearance in the final was in 2000, when they were beaten by Llanelli, but they over-turned a half-time deficit to pip Newport 39-34 in their semi-final on Saturday.
However it took a last-minute try and conversion from James Dixon to knock the Black and Ambers out of the competition.
“I couldn’t be happier with the draw,” said Swansea head coach Richard Webster.
“It’s going to be tough but if we are going to win the Cup we have to beat the best sides, and with the Premiership title out of our reach we are determined to win the SWALEC Cup this year.”
SWALEC Cup Semi-final draw
- Llandovery v Aberavon
- Pontypridd v Swansea (6.30pm, Saturday 9 April)
Ties to be played on weekend of 9 April at neutral venues
SWALEC Plate
Ammanford of SWALEC Two West will be full of confidence when they play Three West’s Gorseinon on the back of their 87-point routing of 2009 Plate finalists Risca in the quarter-final.
No 8 Chris Jones led the way with a try hat-trick of tries and there were two apiece for centres Matthew Brayley and Tom Rees as well as John Ogden.
Gorseinon accounted for Two East outfit Tylorstown 37-22 so they will have no fears about taking on another side from a division above.
Andrew Steel, Josh John, Rhys Carney and Nicholas Southgate all crossed while Andrew Colwill landed three conversions and three penalties.
Tondu of Two West emphatically saw off Division Three outfit Pontypool United 76-15 to earn a semi-final tie against Glynneath.
Paul Smithson and Joe Heatley both crossed twice as the Waterwheelers went over the visitors line on ten occasions.
Full-back Dean Thomas scored a try, seven conversions and two penalties for a personal tally of 25 points.
Three South West’s Glynneath always had the edge over Aberdare of Three South East and ran out comfortable 31-13 winners. Scrum half James Pike went over twice while outside half Jack O’Reilly touched down and converted three tries.
SWALEC Plate Semi-final draw
- Gorseinon v Ammanford
- Tondu v Glynneath
Ties to be played on weekend of 9 April at neutral venues
SWALEC Bowl
SWALEC Four East’s Senghenydd are determined to go one better than last season and a crushing 69-10 success against Monmouth of Five East sets them up with a semi-final tie against Vardre of Four South West.
Scrum half Alun Ford led the way for the winners at the Welfare Ground with two tries, seven conversions and a penalty to total 27 points.
The tie was all over by the interval with the home side leading 31-5 but the visitors put up plucky resistance.
On the other hand, Vardre were made to work very hard to overcome Districts outfit Cardiff Medicals who had already dispatched five league sides on their way to the quarter-finals.
Liam Garland kicked three penalties and converted a penalty try for Vardre to secure a nail-biting 16-14 victory over the students.
Maesteg Quins scored four unanswered tries in their 27-15 win at Four South East outfit Tonyrefail and will face Porth, another side from that division in the semi-final.
Wing Ryan Lovett crossed twice for Quins while Dean Ronan and Robbie Morris also crossed. All Tonyrefail had to show for their efforts were five penalties from outside half Matthew Cook.
Porth provided the shock of the day with a 13-6 victory at high-flying Amman United. The Four South West side restricted the Cwmamman Park fifteen to two penalties and went through to the semi-final by scoring the game’s only try and adding a conversion and two penalties.
SWALEC Bowl
- Maesteg Quins v Porth
- Vardre v Senghenydd
Ties to be played weekend of 9 April at neutral venues
