NEATH 27 PONTYPRIDD 18 (by Phil Space)
Neath made it through to the Cup semi-finals with a keenly-fought win over Pontypridd who were up for the Cup challenge and posed the Blacks plenty of problems.

In the opening quarter, the Blacks struggled to get their game together and Ponty took an 8-nil lead through a penalty by outside-half Lee Thomas and a try by flanker Wayne O'Connor from a shortened lineout.

But the Neath pack lifted their effort to produce first-half tries by flanker John McPhail (similar to that of O'Connor) and by outside-half Matthew Jones who converted one and kicked a penalty before Thomas was awarded his second penalty chance.

Neath dominated the second-half but added only a try by wing Kevin James that Jones converted to make it a comfortable 22-11. Lack of support for the ball-carrier cost Neath four penalties - and probably four tries - before Pontypridd, remarkably disciplined and unpenalised in defence, broke out and got a try by Neil Boobyer that Thomas converted.

That made for a thrilling spell of injury-time. Ponty went through the phases time and time again but the Neath defence was up to the mark. When the ball was turned over, the Blacks pounced and, from a neat chip by Jones, full back Gareth Morris touched down for Neath's fourth try to carry the Blacks through to the semi-final on April 17th.

Four tries to two summed up Neath's superiority but there is much work to be done if the Blacks are to make it through to the final.