WRU National Plate champions Penallta will get the chance to avenge their last gasp defeat in the 206 final against Bedlinog if they can overcome Treorchy in the semi-final of the Worthington Mid District Cup at Penygraig RFC on Tuesday, 2 May (KO 7.30pm).
The Foxes have already booked their ticket in the final after a convincing 32-19 win over Brecon at The Wern, Merthyr, and the National Championship outfit will have their hands full whoever they meet in the final at Sardis Road on Wednesday, 10 May. While Penallta beat Ystalyfera on try count at the Principality Stadium to win the Plate for the second time, the Zebras of Treorchy have won the Division 1 East Central title this season.
Llantwit Major will meet Dinas Powys in the Worthington East District Cup Final at Cardiff Met’s Cyncoed ground on Tuesday, 2 May after they came through the semi-finals. Taffs Well took the lead after 40 seconds against underdogs Llantwit Major, but they still ended up on the wrong side of a 51-42 defeat.
Having been hit with that early, sucker punch, Llantwit Major scored three tries to lead 19-7 and were 29-16 ahead at the break. Taffs Well then conceded another try to fall further behind at 34-16 before staging an incredible rally that cut the gap to two points at 44-42.
It took a ninth try on the night from Llantwit to finally seal the deal 51-42 and the winners were indebted to the pace of full back Rory Budina and some superb tries from Josh Austin and Luke Dawes.
The other semi-final was a much more straightforward affair as the 2015 cup winners, Dinas Powys, led Cowbridge 6-0 at the break thanks to two penalties from Ben White. White added a third in the second half before a burst of four tries stretched the lead to 33-0.
Cowbridge did manage to grab a consolation score at the end that saw the game finish with a 33-7 truimph for Dinas Powys. Dinas Powys are currently top of Division 2 East Central, while Llantwit Major are third in Division 3 East Central B.
The students of Cardiff Met retained the Worthington East District 2nd XV Cup with a 34-29 win over a battling St Joseph’s side at Llandaff RFC. The Met led 29-10 at half-time thanks to four tries from Callum Conway (2), Corey Whane and Declan Hadley and looked well set for a comfortable win.
But the defence of their title went anything but smoothly in the second half as St Joes came storming back into the contest through a superb effort from their pack. Flanker Ieuan Rosser crossed for a morale boosting try in the first half for St Joes, with Jordan Lawrence adding the conversion to an earlier penalty, and further tries from hooker Jack Jones and replacement wing Aodhan Gallagher helped to close the gap to seven points.
It looked all over when the Met produced a fine fifth try, scored by full back Craig Lewis, but again the St Joes refused to give up. Outstanding centre Max Rodman ran in for a fourth try to set up a grandstand finish, but the students held on to win by five points.
Rhydyfelin have been awarded a free passage into the Glamorgan County Silver Ball final after Caerphilly conceded their semi-final. It means Rhydyfelin will now meet Tondu in the final at Aberavon on Saturday, 20 May.
There are a host of cup finals to come over the next month to provide the season with an exciting finish. The following list should help you keep track of some of them.
Worthington East District Cup Semi-Finals
Taffs Well 42, Llantwit Major 51
Dinas Powys 33, Cowbridge 7
Worthington East District Cup Final
Llantwit Major v Dinas Powys (at Cardiff Met, Cyncoed, Tuesday, 2 May – 7.15pm)
Worthington East District 2nd XV Cup Final
Cardiff Met 2nd XV 34 St Joseph’s 2nd XV 29 (at Llandaff RFC)
Worthington Mid District Cup Semi-Finals
Bedlinog 32, Brecon 9
Penallta v Treorchy (at Penygraig, Tuesday, 2 May – 7.30pm)
Worthington Mid District Cup Final
Bedlinog v Penallta or Treorchy (at Sardis Road, Pontypridd, Wednesday, 10 May – 7.15pm)
Worthington Mid District Bowl Semi-Finals
Aberdare 30, Abercwmboi 27 (at Abercynon RFC)
Llantrisant v Penygraig (at Treorchy RFC)
Worthington Mid District Bowl Final
Aberdare v Llantrisant or Penygraig (at Sardis Road, Pontypridd, Wednesday, 17 May – 7.15pm)
Cardiff & District Cup Finals (at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park)
Ron Lucock Cup Final (Wednesday, 3 May – 6.45pm)
Ninian Stuart Cup Final – (Friday, 5 May – 5.15pm)
Mallett Cup Final – (Friday, 5 May – 7.15pm)
Worthington Neath & District Cup Final
Tonna v Bryncoch (at Briton Ferry RFC, Friday, 5 May – 6.30pm)
High Motive Glamorgan County Silver Ball Final
Tondu v Rhydyfelin (Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon, Saturday, 20 May)
Pontypool District RU – Ivor Jones Cup Final
Usk v Crickhowell (at Pontypool Utd RFC, Friday, 28 April)
Pembrokeshire Cup Final
Tenby United v Cardigan or Aberystwyth (TBC, Friday, 12 May)
West Wales RU Plate Semi-Finals
Amman United v Llandybie (at Brynamman RFC, Tuesday, 2 May – 7.00pm)
Burry Port v Alltwen (at Dunvant RFC, Wednesday, 3 May – 7.30pm)
West Wales RU Bowl Final
Resolven v Pontarddulais (at Ystradgynlais RFC, Friday, 12 May – 7.00pm TBC)
West Wales RU Cup Final
Trebanos v Bonymaen (at Dunvant RFC, Saturday, 20 May – 2.30pm)
North Wales Cup Final
Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay, Saturday, 13 May