CROSS TREBLE LIGHTS UP SEMI
DEWI Cross scored a hattrick of tries as Cardiff marched into the final of the WRU Premiership Cup with a thumping eighttry, 52-15 win over RGC in Merthyr.
Wing Cross lit up the semi-final on the artificial surface at The Wern with his three tries, while centre Aaron Pinches added a brace to send Cardiff back to the Principality Stadium for the final on April 23. They currently sit top the Indigo Premiership table and are now chasing a league and cup double.
The Blue & Blacks had their pack to thank for laying the foundation after dominating their north Walian opponents to make it three wins over them this season. Cardiff’s scrum stamped it’s authority on proceedings with an early penalty and from the resulting lineout, a driving maul saw hooker Efan Daniel touch down.
Cross then hit twice in quick succession – the second after picking off an interception as RGC pressed – for a 19-3 halftime lead. Cross struck again for a third soon after the break and the flood gates opened.
Pinches squeezed over for 33-3 lead, before RGC were finally rewarded for their ambition when Dan Owens finished a fine break by Dion and Efan Jones.
However, replacement frontrow man Alun Rees resumed Cardiff’s scoring with their sixth try before Pinches grabbed his second.
Pedr Jones got a consolation second for RGC but there was still time for Cardiff to score their eighth when No. 8 Joe Goodchild charged over late on.
Newport’s quest for back-toback Welsh Premiership Cups continued in style as they comfortably beat Pontyrpidd 26-10 at Bridgend’s Brewery Field.
Three first half tries from Thomas Davies, Sam Jones and Dafydd Buckland gave the Black & Ambers a comfortable 19-5 interval lead.
Winger Jones added his second try at the start of the second half to seal the victory.
It was Newport who opened the scoring after a 50/22 from Matt O’Brien. The lineout saw Newport use their rolling maul as loosehead Davies rumbled over.
Newport centre Chay FosterSmith then broke through the Ponty defence to create a simple two on one to put Jones over in the corner.
Ponty’s initial response was good as they managed to gain some territory inside the Newport 22.
Following a number of penalties against them, scrum-half Dafydd Buckland was shown a yellow card and Ponty used their man advantage to work fullback Dale Stuckey over for a slick score.
When Buckland returned, he scored his side’s third try following a break from wing Elliot Frewen, with the scrum-half supporting on the inside line.
Newport started the second half exactly how they ended the first, Wales U20 centre Harri Ackerman providing the assist for winger Jones to score again.
Pontypridd attempted to fight their way back into the contest although the cup holders were in no mood to surrender their title.
Ponty did cross again in the dying minutes thanks to wing Alex Lloyd, but it was too little, too late.