Of the eight teams progressing to the quarter final stage, three of those are Welsh clubs, Cross Keys, Llanelli and Pontypridd.
Pontypridd nailed top spot in Pool 5 with an 18-7 home win over a competitive Leeds side. Swansea’s last gasp away win at Doncaster earlier in the day, by 16- 20, had already confirmed Ponty as pool qualifiers. Ulster topped Pool 6 with a 24-31 win at Rotherham.
Aberavon secured an emphatic home win over Esher by 40-14, but finish only third in Pool 3. Neath ended a campaign which had started so well with an away win at Bristol by losing at home to Plymouth Albion by 6-24, finishing bottom of Pool 1.
That same pool was topped by Cornish Pirates who won at home against Cross Keys on Sunday by 30-3 ending Cross Keys’ winning streak. Keys however had already done enough to finish top of Pool 2.
Another Welsh team qualifying for the quarter finals was Llanelli, who topped Pool 4, their final result being a creditable 25-25 draw, away to Bedford Blues.
Going into the quarter final draw, seeded by pool placings, are: Cornish Pirates; UlsterRavens; Leinster A; Cross Keys; Llanelli; Pontypridd; Nottingham; MunsterA.
