Quins off to a flyer with big cup upset

Welsh Championship Cup round-up

MAESTEG Harlequins stunned Neath to record a shock 32-23 home victory over the Welsh All Blacks in their WRU Championship Cup opener.

The hosts were on fire in the first-half with tries from wing Ryan Lovett, second row Nathan Smith, and No.8 Andrew Healey on his 200th game for the club, while Tadhg McGuckin kicked 12 points while also grabbing a try.

Maesteg held a 29-16 lead at the interval with Dyfan Ceredig claiming their try. But the second-half was a more tense affair as Neath clawed their way back into the game thanks to Steffen Williams’ boot, but in the end Maesteg had too much quality.

Bargoed were also the big winners this weekend as they thrashed Cross Keys 33-13 at Pandy Park. They scored four tries in total with Steff Thomas, Darren Humphries, James Leadbeater, and Wade Langley touching down. All Cross Keys could muster was a try from Adam Tetley, and eight points from the boot of Curtis Povey.

Cardiff Met bounced back from their opening weekend defeat to Glamorgan Wanderers with a 47-22 demolition job on Beddau. The students were on fire scoring eight tries in total through Keian Richards, Joel Broadhurst, Iwan Shenton (twice), Elliot Salt, Ethan McVeigh, Roma Zheng, and Sam Brown.

Arguably the game of the day was Narbeth’s 24-20 win at Ystalyfera. This was a ding dong battle with the lead changing hands several times. The Pembrokeshire club’s power proved too much for the Fera with Ospreys academy wing Cian Abraham showing tremendous pace to score two tries.

Ystalyfera nearly snatched the win with an attacking lineout five metres out, but Narberth’s defence remained firm.

Ystrad Rhondda’s home clash with Glamorgan Wanderers was postponed after five players on the away had come into close contact with a Covid case.