Ceri Sweeney is heading back to the Principality Stadium for a Welsh Cup final – 15 years after playing in his first.
The former Wales outside-half, now 37, guided Pontypridd into the final of the WRU National Cup with a cool head as they beat Cross Keys 42-37 at Aberavon.
Sweeney held his nerve to kick a late penalty just as Keys had moved to within two points after a magnificent comeback from 39-16 behind.
The kick secured Ponty’s place in the final – where they will meet RGC 1404 – 15 years after Sweeney was part of the pre-regional era 2002 club side that beat Llanelli 20-17. That was a final made memorable by former Ponty full-back Brett Davey, who scored all his side’s points.
“We’re just glad it’s over” said Sweeney “and that we hung on to the win after that frantic finish. In fairness to Cross Keys they showed great character and never knew when they were beaten.
“It took a big effort late on to calm the nerves and we were glad to see them off in the end. It was the win that mattered in a cup showdown and we’re looking forward to the final now.”
Ponty forwards coach Rob Sidoli – who was also part of that Cup-winning Ponty line-up from 2002 – said: “The first 70 minutes were very pleasing for us. We managed the game well and played some good rugby, scoring good tries.
“We then had a poor five minute spell towards the end, letting them right back into the game, which was unacceptable. We’ll have to have a good look at that in training to put things right and move on from here.”
The semi-finals provided drama in both matches as RGC battled into their first final with an incredible victory with a try in the last play against Merthyr at Sardis Road to run out 24-20 winners.
In the first game, Sweeney steered his side past Cross Keys in an epic clash at the Talbot Athletic Ground with a 22 point contribution.
Cross Keys looked dead and buried when Joe Davies charged down a kick and galloped over for Ponty’s fifth try to make it 39-16 on the hour mark. But when Ponty full back Gary Williams picked up a yellow card six minutes later, everything changed.
Three tries in the space of five minutes from wing Matt Powell, and replacements Rhys Fitzgerald and Joe Goodchild suddenly cut the gap to two points with nine minutes left to play. It set-up a nervous finish for the Ponty players and fans.
But while many around him were starting to panic, the 37-year-old Sweeney kept his cool and he slotted a penalty a minute from the end to guarantee a return to the home of Welsh rugby for one more final.
Sweeney’s opposite number Josh Prosser kicked three penalties and converted the first of Powell’s two tries to keep Keys in touch at 22-16 at the break. Ponty had tries from Sweeney, Mitch Auger and Wales Under 20 centre Cameron Lewis.
Dafi Jones crossed two minute after the re-start after good approach work by the outstanding wing Davies. Then Davies got his charge down score for Ponty’s fifth touchdown.
The second game on the artificial surface at Sardis Road more than matched the drama of earlier in the day. When Martyn Thomas ghosted over for a try that gave Merthyr the lead for the first time in the match with only 50 seconds left to play it seemed as though the north Wales dream of a big day out in Cardiff was done and dusted.
But Mark Jones’ RGC side refused to give up, somehow regained possession from the re-start and then conjured up a superb try for outstanding right wing Sam Jones to book their ticket to a WRU National Cup final showdown with Pontypridd next month.
Just to add a little lustre to the try Jacob Botica knocked over the touchline conversion and the Gogs made it three wins out of three this season against last year’s Championship winners. It was nothing less than they deserved for their creativity and tenacious defence.
Carwyn ap Myrddin, on his 100th appearance, and Botica raced over for first-half tries to give RGC a 17-3 interval lead. The air must have been blue at half-time in the Ironmen’s dressing room because they came out with a bang in the second half.
Prop James Howe ran the length of the 22 for his side’s first try and Matt Jarvis converted and then added a penalty to cut the gap to four points. Then came Thomas’ race for glory and a touchline conversion from Jarvis that seemed to have won the game at the death.
But back came RGC and over went Jones, thanks to some great handling from Botica and the brilliant Afon Bagshaw, for his sensational and historic matchwinner.