Is not a sign of things
Ieuan Jones saw wing Nathan Trowbridge cross for their second unconverted try in a 19-3 scoreline.
Although Pooler went in search of a consolation score, the home side’s excellent defence meant they were rarely seriously troubled.
“What a great advert for Gwent rugby that was,” said Keys coach Greg Woods. “It was a really competitive derby played in front of a packed house. And we are through to our fifth semi-final in six years, which isn’t bad for a village side.” Dai Young He’s yet to see his son Thomas make his Test debut for Wales, but there’s plenty for the former prop and Blues coach to smile about as his Wasps side go from strength to strength in the Aviva Premiership.
And on Saturday came possibly a defining moment as they slug it out with Exeter Chiefs and Saracens to be top dogs with an impressive 24-3 victory at Bath’s Recreation Ground against a home side that had Welsh stars Taulupe Faletau and Luke Charteris among their ranks.
Wasps’ stars trumped the big name Bath players with Wallabies ace Kurtley Beale their inspiration in the west country.
“We’ve taken a big stride in cementing our place in the top four. That’s the important thing. Then you’ve got four games to cement ourselves in the top two,” said Young afterwards.
“It’s not a foregone conclusion by any means. There’s no easy games for us but we are in a very strong position, one I am very pleased with.” Phil Dollman There’s no shortage of players who have left the Dragons for bigger and better things and Exeter Chiefs star Dollman is a prime example.
Just days after agreeing as new contract with the Aviva Premiership high-flyers than the 31-year-old Caerphilly-born back was impressing at full-back in the Chiefs’ outstanding 34-15 victory at Leicester Tigers.
“He was the first player I officially signed on my own as head coach, the first contract I put my name to, and he has done exceptionally well for us,” said Exeter supremo Rob Baxter. “He is just one of those guys who has added quality to us right throughout our time in the Premiership.
“He is probably one of the most under-rated players we have had here at the club. He has performed at such a high level, has been so durable and consistent, and he has come through the Championship and then the lower ends of the Premiership, into the Champions Cup, and you see him performing in these top-four games and he looks very comfortable.
LOSERS
WRU National League The grassroots game in Wales isn’t exactly having a field day with 100-point hammerings and clubs unable to raise sides continuing to blight the National League. So what the game could have done without is a game having five players sent off and the referee abandoning the match because of fighting.
But that’s what happened in the Division Three East C clash between Malpas RFC and Pontypool-based West Mon on Saturday.
Newport outfit Malpas had two players sent off and the visiting West Mon side saw three players red carded. And that was before a brawl two minutes from time saw the referee call a halt to proceedings. The referee’s report should make interesting reading when it arrives at the offices of the WRU. Richard Hibbard The Welsh blond bombshell has been at his explosive best in recent months for Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership producing the sort of form that brought the 33-year-old hooker 38 caps and three Test appearances on the 2013 Lions tour of Australia.
But his copybook performances for the Cherry & Whites was slightly blotted on the weekend with a yellow card that provided the turning point in their vital Premiership clash with Harlequins.
Gloucester seemed to have the match wrapped up when they scored 17 points in an eight-minute burst.
But the sin-binning of Hibbard nine minutes from time opened the door for Harlequins who scored 15 unanswered points in the final seven minutes for a 30-27 win in the west country. The Scarlets, Dragons and Blues It’s best to lump all three regions into one because there was precious little to get enthused about from the performances on the weekend. From the three Pro12 games played it was an aggregate 115-30 scoreline in favour of Leinster, Glasgow and Munster respectively. Enough said! Merthyr and Ebbw Vale Outside of the Principality Premiership, the WRU National Cup remains one of the blue riband events on the Welsh rugby calendar.
But if any WRU officials were at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday what they would have made of events in the eighth minute of Ebbw Vale’s quarter-final clash with Merthyr is anyone’s guess.
Referee Gwyn Morris had to call upon all his experience to deal with an unpleasant outbreak of fighting and sent off Ebbw Vale No.8 Jonathan Davies and Merthyr flanker Osian Davies.
But he had to intervene again seconds later when their feud continued off the pitch as well.
The warring pair exchanged more punches in front of a packed grandstand with the commotion prompting players and officials from both teams to be drawn to the melee. Marc Jones The former Sale Sharks hooker was one of five Welshmen involved in the Bristol team for their massive Aviva Premiership relegation clash at Worcester Warriors on Sunday.
Despite their Gavin Henson-inspired west country derby win over Bath last time out, the perma-tanned one couldn’t ignite another victory at Sixways as Bristol were outscored six tries to three to leave their one season in the top flight of the English game hanging by a thread. One key moment came when Jones overshot all his lineout jumpers and found Worcester scrum-half Francois Hougaard, who was left with a clear run to the line despite the Warriors being down to 14 men at the time.