Cross Keys secured their place in the quarter finals of the British and Irish Cup thanks to a scintillating try bonus display, defeating Neath at home for the first time in 35 years with a 45-18 triumph at Pandy Park.
The Keys travel to Cornish Pirates next weekend with three bonus point victories under their belts over Ayr, Moseley and now Neath, as they sit atop their group.
The hosts helped themselves to six tries in all, the impressive Matthew Jones added the extras to all six and also fired home a penalty.
The outcome was never in doubt as Keys dominated all areas of the match and were rewarded as early as the fourth minute when scrum half Rhys Dyer darted over the line, setting the tone for the afternoon with the hosts taking a 10-6 advantage down the tunnel.
After the break the Gwent side did not look back and touched down for two quick-fire tries, with Mark Jones and then Nathan Trowbridge going over, putting the Keys in total control.
They quickly wrapped up the bonus point shortly after as Gerwyn Price barged his way over before Kristian Baller got in on the action bagging a brace.
Neath, who have been in impressive form in the Premiership this year, were unable to get going and the day was summed up by conceding two tries when they were facing 14 men, although the Welsh All Blacks did give their travelling fans something to cheer about, crossing for two second half tries through Rhodri Crabtree and Jamie Davies.
Neath’s British and Irish Cup aspirations will have to be shelved for another season after slipping to their second defeat in the pool stages.
Meanwhile, last year’s semi-finalists Pontypridd’s chances of progressing took a blow as they narrowly fell to defeat out in Ulster, going down 17-16.
Ponty came unstuck to a late James McKinney penalty, who fired home to gift the Ravens victory.
The hosts got off to the better start when full back Peter Nelson touched down for a rather opportunistic score but it was the Welsh side that took a 16-11 lead into the interval thanks to tries through prop Ken Knaggs and winger Matthew Nuthall, as well as two Dean Gunter penalties.
But the visitors failed to build on their good opening half and they will rue Gunter’s misses from the tee and now must win their home clash with Bristol next weekend.
Elsewhere, Swansea slumped out of the competition suffering their third straight defeat at home to Currie going down 38-21, while Aberavon’s hopes of progression were also diminished as they narrowly lost out 9-8 to Melrose in a tense encounter.
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