Llanelli Star

RESOLVEN HIT BACK TO BAG LAST-16 SPOT

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Cefneithin scrum-half Dion Thomas kicks ahead. RESOLVEN battled back from behind to pip Senghenydd 24-23 and book their place in the last 16 of the WRU National Plate.

Having trailed 13-0 at half-time and then been 16-0 down early in the second half, Resolven showed their fighting spirit and snatched a dramatic third-round clash in the dying moments when Owen Evans kicked a penalty.

Evans had earlier also scored a try in the second half along with Sam Martin and Kyle Jones, with Evans converting all three.

Reaching the fourth round is the furthest the club have ever gone in the Plate competitio­n.

Despite the lead Senghenydd had opened up, Resolven head coach David Puckett said he was always confident his side would come out on top.

He said: “They were a good side and were always going to fight until the end.

“The conditions were terrible and I just felt that 13 points wasn’t enough at half-time with that wind.

“I was confident for the second half, it was just about the boys keeping it together.

“It was deserved; I didn’t feel we were going to lose but it was a competitiv­e game.

“They were the better side in the first half, but then we came back and took control. I was pleased with the way the boys came out and scored 24 points in the second half.

“We’re delighted to get to the last 16 and it’s great for the club.

“We’d love a home draw. There’s not an easy side left in it now so it’s all on the day.”

Resolven are enjoying an excellent season and have lost just once so far, a top of-the-table clash at Birchgrove in Two West Central, having won their first eight matches.

Promotion back to division one at the first time of asking after relegation last season is one of their aims.

Elsewhere in the Plate, the third round signalled the end of the road for Llanelli Wanderers as they went out after a 3-0 defeat at Rhiwbina.

After a scoreless first 40 minutes, Lewis Pearce’s second-half penalty was the only thing that separated the sides on the day but it sent the Squirrels, finalists in 2014, through to the next stage.

Seven Sisters’ tie at Pencoed was postponed, while Mumbles handed Cambrian Welfare a walkover.

Holders Brynmawr took another step towards retaining the Plate after beating Glamorgan Wanderers 16-6.

Ammanford, Bonymaen and Glynneath were among the sides who had byes through round three.

In the WRU National Bowl, Nantgaredi­g’s bid to go beyond last year’s achievemen­t of reaching the quarterfin­als remains on track after they recorded a thumping 43-7 win at Cwmgors to reach the last 16 once again.

Full-back Dafydd Lewis was the star of the show with four secondhalf tries to add to the two from flyhalf Meirion Davies in the first half.

Davies also kicked five conversion­s and two penalties.

The win for Tomas Marks’s side over Three West Central A outfit Cwmgors continues a 100 per cent winning record this season for Three West B leaders Nantgaredi­g.

“The whole team played really well,” said Nant committeem­an Ken Thomas.

“Cwmgors weren’t a bad side, they had a good pack of forwards and our lads played particular­ly well up front.

“I also thought back-rowers Tom Smythe and Gavin Orson did well. They’re always available to carry the ball forward and are pretty good in defence.”

Nantgaredi­g were beaten 19-10 in the quarters last season by Cardiff University, who were thrown out of the competitio­n and denied a place in the final despite beating Pembroke in the semi-finals after they breached the competitio­n’s eligibilit­y rules.

Elsewhere, 2017 champions Amman United’s hopes of another day in the spotlight were dashed after they went out 11-7 at St Alban’s.

Having received two walkovers and a bye through the earlier rounds, it was Amman’s first action in the competitio­n since that memorable day at the Principali­ty Stadium two seasons ago.

It was a second defeat in as many weeks for Amman after they lost for the first time in Three West B this season at Nantgaredi­g in their previous outing.

Pontrhydyf­en also bowed out of the Bowl after they lost 30-14 at RTB Ebbw Vale, while Abercrave went down 20-10 at home against Oakdale. Bynea’s Jordan Saunders steps out of a tackle. Bynea’s Jordan Saunders tries to get a grip on Cefneithin’s Alun Davies.

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