SRC play-offs: Swansea face Newport trip as Aberavon host Bridgend in all-Ospreylian eliminator

Swansea, who finished sixth in the regular season, face a tough away assignment at third-placed Newport in the quarter-finals. The All Whites went down 36-19 at home to Cardiff on the final day, a result that ended Cardiff’s campaign with nine consecutive league wins and sealed their top spot finish.

Jamie Cox, Cam Jones and Lewis Edwards scored for Swansea, with Mat Protheroe kicking two conversions, but it was not enough to prevent the visitors from running out comfortable winners and heading into the knockouts with significant momentum.

Carmarthen Quins, who finished seventh, host 10th-placed Pontypool in an elimination play-off this week with a quarter-final berth at stake. The Quins earned their place in the knockouts in style on the final day, beating Ebbw Vale 12-8 in a rain-lashed Carmarthen Park to simultaneously deny the Steelmen top spot and hand it to Cardiff.

Wales Under-20 outside half Elis Price was the match-winner with four penalties, while hooker Ieuan Morris — the SRC’s leading try scorer this season with 19 — crossed for a try. The winner of the Carmarthen-Pontypool tie will face Cardiff in the quarter-finals.

Aberavon, who finished eighth, must also come through an elimination play-off before they can reach the last eight. The Wizards host ninth-placed Bridgend Ravens at the Talbot Athletic Ground in an all-Ospreylian derby, with a quarter-final place at stake.

The Ravens endured a difficult final day, going down 57-14 to RGC in Colwyn Bay in a result that ended any hopes of a higher finish. It was only 19-14 at half time before RGC scored 38 unanswered points in a rampant second half. The winner at the Talbot Athletic Ground will face Ebbw Vale at Eugene Cross Park in the quarter-finals.

Llandovery, meanwhile, head into the quarter-finals in strong form after a seven-try 47-17 victory at Aberavon on the final day secured them fourth place and a home tie. Tomi Lewis scored twice for the Drovers, with wing Aaron Warren, hooker Harry Thomas, replacement Cam Lewis, centre Kian Abraham and full-back Jac Davies also touching down.

The result confirmed that the top four positions are identical to last season. Llandovery host fifth-placed RGC at Church Bank in the last eight, with Cardiff and Ebbw Vale also guaranteed home advantage in the semi-finals should they progress.

Cardiff top the table after snatching top spot from Ebbw Vale on the final day, finishing two points above the Steelmen. Cardiff captain Craig Hudd said the result capped a strong run of form heading into the knockouts. “We came into this block of games hoping just to get result, result, result, and give us a chance to finish top,” he said. “It feels great to get that done.”

Ebbw Vale will have home advantage in their quarter-final, should they get past either Aberavon or Bridgend at Eugene Cross Park. They led the table by three points heading into the final round before Cardiff’s win at Swansea and their own defeat at Carmarthen combined to deny them top spot for the second year in a row.

Carmarthen Quins director of rugby Steff Thomas struck a cautious note ahead of the elimination rounds. “It’s knockout rugby and all to play for,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a formality where anybody will run away with it. I think there could be a few twists and turns yet to come — and I just hope that we’re amongst that.”

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