Ponty beat Cross Keys in the Cup and Premiership finals last season, while the Keys lifted the coveted silverware at the Millennium Stadium SSE SWALEC Finals Day in 2012. The pair are currently first and third in the Principality Premiership so the semi-final is set to be a closely-fought affair.
Pontypridd coach Gareth Wyatt said, “Cross Keys have been one of our toughest opponents in the last few years, so we know we will have to pull out our best performance next month to get to the finals day.”
Both clubs are still in with a chance of doing the double – if Pontypridd manage that feat it will be the third consecutive double for the Valley Commandoes. But Wyatt isn’t looking past the semi-final hurdle.
“Securing a place at the Millennium Stadium Finals Day means a huge amount to the players, coaches and supporters, as I’m sure it does to Cross Keys, but one of us will have to miss out and we will be working hard to make sure it’s not us.”
Bridgend play Carmarthen Quins on semi-finals day, both keen to get something positive out of the season. Carmarthen Quins’ Principality Play-Off hopes are in the hands of others having moved into fourth position, while Bridgend are one off the bottom in eleventh.
Quins head coach Louie Tonkin said, “We are delighted with the draw, it will be a tough game but we are looking forward to being part of a semi-final. It will be a big challenge but an exciting one.
“We said at the start of the season that we wanted to win some silverware and this is one of two ways we can achieve that.
“We’ve been lucky so far in the Cup, we had a bye and a couple of good fixtures in terms of league position but league position won’t mean anything in a semi-final at a neutral venue – we nearly lost to Newport who are bottom last weekend.
Bridgend coach Mike Hook added, “Carmarthen are our bogey team, we haven’t beaten them in a good while in the league, and we haven’t reached the Cup final since 1990, so it would be an amazing reward for our team, and for our supporters to make it to the SSE SWALEC Finals Day on May 3rd.
“We have had good days in the Premiership, beating some of the top teams like Pontypridd, but also low days when we have been disappointing so the Cup is giving us something to aim for at the end of the season.”
SSE SWALEC Plate semi-final draw:
Newcastle Emlyn v Penallta
Ystrad Rhondda v Skewen
SSE SWALEC Bowl semi-final draw:
Ynysddu v Ystradgynlais
Cambrian Welfare v Oakdale
All SSE SWALEC semi-finals to be played weekend of April 18
SSE SWALEC Finals Day, Millennium Stadium Sunday 3 May tickets only £10
