Lock Hicks scores hat-trick

SECOND row Scott Hicks was the toast of the Neath

supporters after he picked up a hat-trick of tries to lift his team to a vital 25-19 win at Maesteg Quins in the Championship Cup.

The Welsh All Blacks, who are celebrating their 150th anniversary season, were beaten at home by the Quins earlier in the season, but returned the favour as they overtook Bargoed at the top of the table to reach the final.

While Hicks grabbed the tries, Steff Williams added three conversions and two penalties to complete the victory and extend his side’s unbeaten run in the main tournament to four games.

There were also two hat-tricks for Narberth

in their 46-24 triumph at Ystrad Rhondda. Scrumhalf George McDonald and wing Josh Davies both crossed the home try line three times. Nick Gale chipped in with ten points from the boot

In the Plate, Cross Keys

picked up their third win as they beat Ystalyfera

19-15. In an open game, tries from Gwion Jones after pressure on the Ystalyfera line, Corey Nicholls and Callum Hague, along with conversions by Adam Tettley, secured the win for Keys. The visitors scored the best try of the day with a length of the field effort from Ben Williams.

Bingo Ivanisevic scored two of his side’s six tries as Cardiff Met moved up to second in the Plate with a 38-27 win at Beddau.

Lee Jarvis’ home side also joined in the entertainment by scoring four tries of their own, courtesy of touchdowns from Dan Reid, Tyler Odin, Ewan Bowden and a superb effort by Iwan Griffith following some great inter-passing. Beddau took an early lead and stayed in touch with further tries from Alan Ashford and Mason Morgan, but they were no match in the end.

In the only surviving fixture in the WRU Championship, Trebanos went to Tata Steel and emerged with a 21-18 win over the bottom-of-table team, moving them up one place in the table.