The last time Keys reached the last four they were thrashed 60-3 by Swansea and they don’t want a repeat at Rodney Parade on Saturday. You have to go back to 2001 to find them last Gwent club to win the title, Newport, and there have only been three winners in 40 years from the region.
But with three of the last four teams coming from Gwent there is a chance either Cross keys, Ebbw Vale or Newbridge could end the cup famine. Newbridge, from the same SWALEC League Division 1 East as Ebbw Vale, head to Cardiff Arms Park to meet Pontypridd.
Keys have already secured their place in one major cup final, after beating Cornish Pirates in the semi-finals of the British & Irish Cup last weekend, and head coach Greg Woods is keen to reach a second final.
“It has been a great couple of weeks for the club. We’re still on a high from that win over the Pirates and we will draw on that experience and enthusiasm for what we know will be a tough battle in the SWALEC Cup,” said Woods..
“We’ve really targeted the cup competitions this season and it’s showing with our performances. We have rested players for games to make sure they peak in the big games and this semi-final is one of those marquee matches.
“It is impossible for a club our size to compete for every trophy. We saw Pontypridd going for the treble a couple of years ago and they just ran out of steam, so we have targeted our games.”
But Woods is wary of the form that has kept Ebbw Vale at the top of the Division 1 East table all season and earned them victories over Principality Premiership sides like Newport, Carmarthen Quins and Swansea on their way to the semi-final.
But Keys will have just that little bit of extra incentive to do well this weekend as they intend to dedicate their performance to former player Lloyd Burns, The Wales and Dragons hooker was forced to retire from the game with a heart complaint this week.
The first Cross keys player to be capped since 1956, he has followed his former club’s fortunes very closely this season and would love them to go all the way to the Millennium Stadium.
“Everyone was devastated by the news about Lloyd and there’s no doubt we will be playing for him on Saturday. He was at Pandy Park last weekend jumping around and cheering us on as much as any fan,” added Woods.
“He’s one of us, one of the lads and we would love to win this semi-final for him. Everyone loved the story of Lloyd, a bricklayer who came up through the local rugby ranks to play at the World Cup. That’s why he was so popular.”
The last time Newbridge reached a semi-final their current hooker, medical student Rhys Price, wasn’t born. That was way back in 1989 and they are hoping to finally reach the final.
“It will be a massive occasion for the club. We never reached a final so it’s our chance to make club history,” said Price.
“The chance to play at the Millennium Stadium in the final is fantastic. I’ve watched all my rugby heroes play on that pitch and it would be an amazing moment to go out there and try to emulate them.
“Pontypridd have a real history in this competition and have a lot of experience of cup rugby. But even though we’re the under-dogs, we have nothing to lose and anything can happen.
“The semi-final has created a real buzz around the club, among the fans, players and coaches. We’re from Division 1, so we’re really punching above our weight, although I think we’ve shown we have the talent to compete at this level.
“We’re unbeaten in 2012 and it would be nice to keep it that way this weekend.”
