Cardiff will meet Newport in the semi-finals of the Super Rygbi Cymru on Sunday after they both used home advantage to good effect to overcome Bridgend and Aberavon respectively.
There were five tries in Cardiff’s 31-19 triumph at the Arms Park, while Newport scored six as they came from behind to beat the Wizards 40-25 at Newport Stadium to set-up a classic east Wales derby in the final four.
Cardiff, who finished top of the table, will host their arch rivals after finally overpowering a belligerent Bridgend side with three second half tries.
The final one, from replacement scrum half Joe Williams, came in the last move of the match from an interception in the 22 as the visitors went in search of a try to take the game into extra time.
It took 21 minutes before home prop Tom Harper opened the scoring as he barged over from close range and then full back Matty Young scored in the corner after Cardiff made the most of a Bridgend line out overthrow.
Steff Emanuel converted off the touchline and the home side led 12-0.
Back came Bridgend with a neat try from replacement wing Jake Thomas that made it a one score game at the break.
The first score in the second half was always going to be important and it took two minutes for Dewi Cross to cross for his 52nd try in 58 games for the Blue & Blacks. Another touchline conversion from Emanuel made it 19-5, but five minutes later Thomas had a second and Ben Burnell’s conversion clawed it back to one score again.
A driving line out try from hooker Alun Evans on the hour mark gave Cardiff some breathing space, but when Ryan Wilkins cut clean through to score a try in the 78th minute that Burnell improved, Bridgend were back in the hunt.
It was all or nothing for the visitors from the kick-off and they thought they had worked an overlap for Thomas, but the referee called them back for a forward pass. Then Williams put the game to bed with his final try.
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Newport were forced to come from behind to beat Aberavon after they trailed 13-5 as the game approached half time.
But as the Wizards started dreaming of claiming a third Gwent scalp inside a month after recent home wins over Ebbw Vale and Pontypool they were undone after the break.
Second half tries from Jac Lloyd, Iestyn Galton and a quickfire brace from centre Dai Richards ensured eventually sent the Black & Ambers in the semis.
Wing Felix Gilbert gave Aberavon the perfect start with a try inside two minutes and hooker Luke Davies burrowed over for another. Newport hit back with a tries from Lloyd Lewis and scrum half Dafydd Buckland, with a Jac Lloyd conversion cutting the gap to 13-12 at half-time.
Then came the second half onslaught from the home side, with Aberavon only able to add tries from Rhys Thomas and Ashton Evans, one of which Ed Dunford converted.
Late tries from wing Harri Doel and replacement hooker Gran Williams enabled Llandovery to go through after eventually overcoming Pontypool 39-20 at Church Bank. The visitors had a second half try from hooker Connor Chapman ruled out for a marginal offside at a ruck that would have brought them back to within one score.
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They did get that close when a midfield bust by Joel Mahoney sent Rhodri Cole racing to the posts and Harri Ford’s conversion made it 27-20 with three minutes to go. Then came that two try salvo from the home side as they made the most of Pooler throwing caution to the wind.
The Drovers, who completed the league and cup double last year, will now head to Eugene Cross Park at the weekend to face Ebbw Vale, who staged a major second half comeback to overcome Carmarthen Quins 45-35.
Carmarthen Quins threw down the gauntlet to Ebbw Vale, who finished second in the league and were unbeaten all season at home, with three first half tries from Louis Rees, Jac Howells and Lucca Setaro to take a 10-point lead into the break at 24-14.
Ifan Davies opened the scoring for the visitors with a penalty and then converted all three tries. The Steelmen hit back with a rolling maul try from skipper Joe Franchi with Evan Lloyd converted and then picked up a penalty try.
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A try from Canadian international Sion Parry cut the gap to three points at the start of the second half before Davies added another penalty. Then came two more trademark tries from Franchi to complete his hat-trick.
Scrum half Gruff Tough then raced clear and Lloyd’s goal kicking pushed the home side into a 12 point lead.
Setaro grabbed a second for Quins, but a final Lloyd penalty sealed the deal.
