WEST REALLY will be best in the SSE Swalec Cup this season after Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins came through their semifinal tests to earn a ticket to the final at the Principality Stadium on Sunday (May 1).
Llandovery wrecked Pontypridd’s plans of a treble this season by beating them 25-16 at St Helen’s, Swansea, while the Quins ended a run of five successive defeats against Cross Keys with a 21-20 triumph at the Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon.
It means the Drovers are into their first final since they so famously won the title by beating Cardiff 20-18 in 2007 and the Quins make a return to the home of Welsh rugby for the first time since their debut in the cup final in 2010.
Last weekend Ponty beat Bedwas to win the Foster’s Challenge Cup at Bridgend and then went to Cardiff during the week and picked up the bonus-point win they needed to return to the top of the Principality Premiership.
But there was no fairy-tale end to the week for them as they were beaten by a Jack Maynard inspired Llandovery side.
Maynard’s 10-point haul in as many minutes sent Llandovery into their first final for nine years.
The second part of the west Wales double came at Aberavon where the Quins just edged out Cross Keys.
Wales sevens international Ethan Davies had a shot for glory for Keys with a last ditch penalty shot from 30 metres, but it drifted wide and the Quins booked their ticket to a first final in six years, and they will be hoping to win their first ever Swalec Cup.
Quins outside half Craig Evans kicked a penalty in the 69th minute to give his side a one-point advantage, which eventually proved decisive after Davies’ miss.
It is set to be an epic encounter at the home of Welsh rugby on May 1 on a day which will also see Carmarthenshire side Burry Port competing for the Swalec Plate trophy after they overcame Aberdare 29-27 with a stunning last minute try and conversion to sneak into the final.
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