Swalec Plate Round Three Review

Llantwit Fardre caused the shock of the third round as they knocked defending Swalec Plate holders Heol y Cyw out with a nail-biting, 17-15 victory at Central Park to book their spot in the last 16.

The Cockerels, who sit second in One East, went into the match full of confidence after their narrow win over league leaders Merthyr last week, but their opponents a division below produced a gritty and dogged performance to clinch the win.

Lloyd Morgan and Carl Thomas touched down for the hosts while Jason Pocock added the extras to both and fired home a penalty to keep his side's dreams of a Millennium Stadium appearance alive and kicking. 

Fardre Club Secretary Jeff Lewis believes his side did more than enough to deserve their victory.

“We’ve been going pretty well in the league so confidence was high in the squad. It was a highly enjoyable match to watch both sides play their part, but we had a game plan and the boys stuck to it perfectly and really played for each other.”

Meanwhile, Amman United are also dreaming of a trip to the home of Welsh rugby after the Two West outfit caused a shock, dispatching Division One side Loughor, 14-9.

Adrian Thomas crossed for the only try of the match for United while Rhys Thomas was on target with three penalties.

Elsewhere, there was no such drama for One West pacemakers Glynneath, who eased into the next round with a 43-10 victory over lower league Morriston.

 Glynneath crossed six times through Jordan Griffiths, Jack O’Reilly, Kier Burrows, Jonathan Griffiths, Liam Puckett and Rhodri Cole.

Merthyr now look set to be one of the favourites left in the competition after the One East leaders put paid to last season semi-finalists Ystrad Rhondda with a 23-16 victory at the Gelligaled.

The Ironmen crossed twice through Owain Morgan and Matthew Trowbridge, captain Steve Lang added the extras to both and two penalties, while Steve James also slotted a penalty.

Meanwhile, Rhiwbina notched up their 12^th win on the bounce as they saw off fellow Two East highfliers Senghenydd with a 33-24 success in an entertaining nine try encounter.

The Squirrels were always in front, with Joe Cassella crossing for two excellent first half tries as their pack took a stranglehold on the game.

Other Rhiwbina tries came from captain Nick Howell and No 8 David Smith, with the match-clincher from a typical charge by Pat Howell, while Gareth McCarthy slotted over four conversions.  

Senghenydd were always in the hunt with tries from James Richards, Nathan Gittings and Robert Bosley, and they snatched a final minute consolation try by James Hallett.

In a Two West versus Two East battle, it was the West’s Maesteg Quins that booked their spot in the hat for the next round with a 16-10 home victory over Llantrisant.

Quins crossed twice through Jay Ronan and Keiron Watkins, while Gareth Lewis found the target with two penalties.

2012 runners up Nant Conwy remain in with a shot of repeating their day out in the capital thanks to the slenderest of triumphs over Newcastle Emlyn 18-17.

Finally, two Kirk Clabby penalties was enough to see Nelson through as they squeezed past fellow One East side Rumney 6-3.

The draw for the last 16 of the competition:-

Swalec Plate Round 4

Amman Utd v Abergavenny

Caernarfon v Nant Conwy

Glamorgan Wanderers v Llantwit Fardre

Glynneath v Waunarlwydd

Merthyr v Risca

Nelson v Llangennech

Rhiwbina v Kidwelly

Trebanos / Kenfig Hill v Maesteg Quins