SATURDAY, 17 APRIL
Carmarthen Quins v Pontypridd at the Brewery Field, Bridgend (2.30pm)
SUNDAY, 18 APRIL
Llanelli v Cardiff at St Helen’s, Swansea (2.30pm)
If you ask Lee Jarvis about his greatest moments in the SWALEC Cup the odds are he will take you back to 1997 and include Cardiff’s semi-final clash with Llanelli at St Helen’s as one of his highlights.
In those days the once capped Welsh outside half was just finding his feet in the big time and had helped Cardiff race into a 28-9 half-time lead. But tries from Rupert Moon and Nigel Davies got the Scarlets back into the fight and it was touch-and-go moving into the final quarter.
Jarvis, who kicked 16 points on that sun-drenched afternoon, recalled what happened to complete the win for Cardiff ahead of this weekend’s semi-final clash with Llanelli to determine who moves forward to the 2010 SWALEC Cup final at the Millennium Stadium.
“It was a good day back in 1997, although it hardly seems like 13 years ago. It took a brilliant solo try from Rob Howley to secure the win that took us into the final against Swansea,” recalled Jarvis, who these days is player-coach at the Arms Park.
“Rob raced 80 metres up the touchline to score the try and complete his semi-final hat-trick. It gave us a 36-26 win in the end and meant we were able to go on and play in the last game ast the old Cardiff Arms park before they pulled it down to create the Millennium Stadium.
“Hemi Taylor was the Cardiff captain in those days and we had players like Mike Hall, Gwyn Jones, Derwyn Jones, Nigel Walker and even Jonathan Davies in the squad. It was all a bit different then to now.
“Even so, this weekend’s semi-final is also going to be a massive occasion for the two clubs and all the old rivalries will still be there. There is a big prize to play for.
“We’ve got a good mix of youth and experience with the likes of ex-Welsh internationals Craig Morgan and Jamie Ringer – another player who featured for Cardiff in 97 – in the squad alongside Wales Under 20 caps like James Loxton .
“We’ve got two teams who like to play a bit of rugby and we’ll be going into this game with a different game plan to our last league encounter, when they won comfortably. The players had a strong talking to this week and we know that defensively we have to be right on the mark.
“But all the pressure is on Llanelli, who have been in five finals since 2000. We’ve got nothing to lose, should be all to go out and enjoy ourselves and hope the result takes care of itself.”
Llanelli were 42-24 winners in the league at the Arms Park in their last match in a game that produced eight tries – five from the visitors. That will be uppermost in their minds as they go into Sunday’s second semi-final (2.30pm kick-off).
One of Jarvis’ former clubs, Pontypridd, will meet Carmarthen Quins in the other semi-final at the Brewery Field, Bridgend on Saturday (2.30pm kick-off). Wales Sevens coach Paul John’s Ponty side beat the Quins 42-27 in a 10 try thriller at Sardis Road in the league earlier this week, but were beaten in Carmarthen in September.
The carrot for the Quins is to reach their first SWALEC Cup final, while Ponty are chasing their eighth.
Teams:
Carmarthen Quins: A Rees; R Carter, A Banfield, T Davies (capt), J Davies; Gareth Cull, Sililo Martens; A Beaujean, R Wilkes, K Jones, G Evans, M Morgan, A Thomas, E Lloyd, S Timami
Replacements: Math Monaghan, Craig Kelly, Simon Gardiner, Wayne Williams, Gareth Williams, Ricky Richards, James Garland
Pontypridd: .A Bramwell; O Williams, G Dacey (captain), A Thomas, C Clayton; D Gunter, R Downes; K Knaggs, T Hetherington, R Harford, G Harrington, C Martenko, R Lloyd, W O’Connor, C Dicomidis. Replacements: K Baller, L Williams, M Nuthall, K Dacey, D Waters, R Savage, J Williams.
Llanelli: D Newton; J Lewis, N Reynolds, S Williams, C Keenan; S Shingler, G Davies; S Hopkins, C Hawkins (capt), J Corsi, A Powell, N White, A Shingler, D Eager, B Morgan
Replacements: C Jones, R Lawrence, J Galley, S Phillips, J James, S Martin, D Thomas
Cardiff: C Morgan; J Loxton, G Chapman, D Ryan, N Rees; L Jarvis, O Rutley; D Preece, G Horrigan, D Matthews, A Sweet, D Partridge, J Ringer, R Shellard (captain), D Godfrey. Replacements: R James, P Osbourne, A Powell, C Everett, G Lucas, G Davies, O Williams.
SWALEC PLATE SEMI-FINALS (Saturday, 17 April)
Kenfig Hill v Llantwit Fardre at Llanharan RFC (2.30pm)
Maesteg v Loughor at Glynneath RFC (2.30pm)
Maesteg are hoping to cap a successful season by making it a league and cup double by taking the SWALEC Division 2 West title and winning the SWALEC Plate competition.
The Old Parish are just a win away from clinching the league title, but know they are in for a tough task against Loughor on Saturday.
“We haven’t played them in the league as yet but they are due at Llynfi Road next Saturday and we finish our league season off at Loughor on 15 May,” said Maesteg press officer Dennis Thomas.
“The Plate is a trophy we want to win and we are fully committed to going all the way to the Millennium Stadium on 8 May.”
Maesteg are 17 points clear at the top of Division 2 West having losst only once in 18 outings to date this season. Loughor are down in sixth place.
“We still have four games to play but one point should secure the title for us and help to make up for the disappointment of going down by a point last season.
“Our squad is full of ex-Maesteg youth team players and we are hoping to re-establish ourselves both in the cups and league.”
Kenfig Hill of Three South West take on Llantwit Fardre of Two East in the other Plate semi-final.
SWALEC BOWL SEMI-FINALS
Abercarn v Pontardawe at Merthyr Tydfil RFC (2.30pm)
Senghenydd v Trebanos at Rhymney RFC (2.30pm)
Abercarn of Four East play Pontardawe of Four South West, while in the other semi-final, Senghenydd of Five South East take on Trebanos of Five South West.
