Swansea 27-16 Bridgend
By: Paul Hopkins
Image Credit: Josh Perkins @joshs.vision on Instagram
The All Whites reached a first Welsh Cup semi-final since 2009 with an outstanding three try win over Bridgend at St Helen’s.
In the opening five minutes full back Mike Powell sold hooker Jamie Cox a clever dummy and raced up to half way, but the All Whites reclaimed possession and earned a penalty. Fly half Rhys Jones kicked the three pointer.
Moments later the Bridgend defence were penalised for obstruction from a Rhys Jones high kick, and the fly half made them pay with a second successful kick at goal.
A booming penalty touch funder by Rhys Jones gave Swansea a lineout just five metres out from the Bridgend line. Flanker Sam Pailor came inches to scoring but couldn’t hold onto the ball, although play was brought back for a penalty.
Another penalty touch finder resulted in a maul brought down illegally, with referee Gareth Newman issuing a warning to the visitors.
The familiar sight of Rhys Jones dinking the ball into touch followed, and lock Lewis Jones took the lineout with the Bridgend pack unable to prevent Cox from mauling over for a try. Rhys Jones converted.
Swansea were in dreamland a minute later when number eight Morgan Morse picked up a loose ball at the ruck and raced clear to score from half way. Rhys Jones converted.
Lock Ben Thomas powered through a tackle up to the 22 and the home side were penalised for not releasing after the tackle. Fly half Paul Short chipped into the corner and prop Harry Olding powered over for a try from a secondary rolling maul. Short missed the conversion.
The Bridgend pack drove their counterparts upwards at a scrum to earn a penalty, with Short kicking for territory. Hooker Gareth Harvey failed to throw straight in the lineout though, gifting welcome possession to the All Whites.
Both captains were spoken to after a couple of minor skirmishes took place, and it was the visitors who were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Short kicked the simple three pointer.
Rhys Jones chipped into the corner with a penalty as the home side looked to attack again, but the Whites’ rolling maul was stopped on the line, resulting in a goal line drop out.
The visitors continued to dominate up front and earned another penalty thanks to excellent work by prop Curtis Hicks. Swansea managed a turnover and a clever chip ahead by winger Morgan Rees regained much needed territory.
Winger Cameron Ellis superb plucked the ball out of the air to set Bridgend on their way, but fellow winger Stuart Floyd-Ellis was stopped in his tracks. Harvey then charged forward but his side were prompted turned over.
Half-time:- Swansea 20-8 Bridgend
The home side continued to attack after the interval with full back Harri Houston bursting out of a tackle over the 22, but support was slow to arrive and the Bridgend defence forced a knock on.
Harvey charged into the 22, with number eight Jordan Collier and flanker Dafi Davies making further yard, before the Whites were penalised for offside. Short chose to chip to the corner, but a misfiring lineout was taken by flanker Callum Bowden.
Scrum half Chris Williams and Powell linked up to start another Bridgend attack with Davies charging forward. The home side gave away a penalty and Short kicked his side to within nine points.
Swansea grabbed their first points of the second half in style when Houston took a high ball and got the ball out wide to Morgan Rees, who sprinted 30 metres and fed replacement scrum half Cameron D Jones for a try under the posts. Rhys Jones converted.
It looked like a repeat of the same move moments later when Morgan Rees raced through and chipped ahead, but the overeager Cameron D Jones was penalised for straying in front of the kick.
The Ravens looked for a way back into the game were awarded a penalty at the lineout with Short finding touch a metre from the Swansea line. An outstanding defensive effort by the home side at the maul turned over possession.
Replacement flanker Lloyd Evans was yellow carded for killing the ball near the home line as Bridgend were awarded another penalty. Bowden followed him into the bin moments later for a similar offence.
The visitors used the two man advantage to get the ball out wide for replacement scrum half Jakob Williams to score. Short missed the conversion and it was too late anyway as referee Newman blew the final whistle, sending the All Whites into the semi-finals.
Full-time:- Swansea 27-16 Bridgend
Swansea:
Tries:- Jamie Cox (14), Morgan Morse (16), Cameron D Jones (61)
Cons:- Rhys Jones (15, 17, 62)
Pens:- Rhys Jones (6, 8)
Yellow cards:- Lloyd Evans (80+2), Callum Bowden (80+4)
Bridgend:
Tries:- Harry Olding (23), Jakob Williams (80+4)
Pens:- Paul Short (31, 56)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Sunny, 11C
Referee:- Gareth Newman
Man of the match:- Morgan Rees
Attendance:- 500
Swansea team:
15 Harri Houston
14 Gareth O Rees
13 Joe Thomas
12 Osian Knott (rep: Ieuan Bissell 77)
11 Morgan Rees
10 Rhys Jones (rep: Brandon Wood 74)
9 Gareth J Rees (rep: Cameron D Jones 53)
1 James Kenny (rep: Cameron B Jones 53)
2 Jamie Cox (rep: Owen Thomas 41)
3 Ed Thompson (rep: Ellis Fackrell 41)
4 Lewis Jones
5 Matt Dodd (rep: Alex Ashton 69)
6 Sam Pailor (rep: Lloyd Evans 53)
7 Callum Bowden ©
8 Morgan Morse
Replacements:
16 Owen Thomas
17 Cameron B Jones
18 Ellis Fackrell
19 Alex Ashton
20 Lloyd Evans
21 Cameron D Jones
22 Ieuan Bissell
23 Brandon Wood
Bridgend team:
15 Mike Powell
14 Stuart Floyd-Ellis
13 Joseph Gatt
12 Tommy Morgan
11 Cameron Ellis
10 Paul Short
9 Chris Williams (rep: Connor Tantum 64 (rep: Jakob Williams 71))
1 Harry Olding (rep: Alex George 74)
2 Gareth Harvey (rep: Evan Yardley 54)
3 Curtis Hicks (rep: Liam Tobias 62)
4 Ben Thomas
5 Jack Pope
6 Dafi Davies (rep: Dylan Burrows 62)
7 Zac O’Driscoll (rep: Hemi Barnes 71)
8 Jordan Collier
Replacements:
16 Evan Yardley
17 Alex George
18 Liam Tobias
19 Dylan Burrows
20 Hemi Barnes
21 Connor Tantum
22 Alfie Llewellyn
23 Jakob Williams