Pontypridd V Connacht

(1st leg Connacht 30-35 Ponypridd)

Pontypridd squeezed into the semi-finals of the PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP with a tight victory over Irish province Connacht at a rain soaked Sardis Road.

The Valley Commandoes' victory at their home ground means they improved their five point advantage from the first leg to win by eight points overall with a 47-39 aggregate victory.

Driving rain meant the free-flowing and entertaining rugby in the first leg of this game was never going to be repeated.

The first half was largely controlled by the boot of Neil Jenkins and his kicking counterpart Eric Elwood.

The world's leading points points scorer was enjoying an inspired evening in front of the posts, giving his side a narrow 9-3 lead at the break.

Neither side threatened to score anything other than penalty goals in a drab first half, but after the break the game opened up as Ponty looked to kill things off and Connacht sought to find some way of getting back into the match.

But no one could break the deadlock to grab the crucial first try. Jenkins added a penalty goal just after half-time and Elwood hit back with two of his own to bring the score back to 12-9.

With the game slipping away from them Connacht desperately went in search of the score they needed to rescue this game.

But the relentless rain and muddy conditions made any sustained period of attack impossible and Ponty held onto the win to send them into the last four.

Lynn Howells' men will now meet London Wasps in a mouth-watering tie for a place in the final of the PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP.

Pontypridd: B Davey; G Wyatt, S James, C Sweeney, E Lewis; N Jenkins, P John; G Jenkins, M Davies (capt), D Bell, B Cockbain (M Owen 61), R Sidoli, R Parks, W O'Connor, G Lewis

Connacht: M. McHugh; G. Duffy, D. Yapp, S. Moore (capt.), W. Munn; E. Elwood, E. Reddan; R. McCormack, J. Flannery, P. Bracken; D. Browne, R. Frost; C. Rigney, J. O¹Sullivan, J. O¹Connor.

Replacements: D. McFarland, M. Uijs, M. Swift, E. Peters, C. Keane, J. Norton, T. Robinson.

Pontypridd 12 Connacht 9
HT: 9-3 Attendance: 6,000
Pontypridd: Pens - N Jenkins 4
Connacht: Pens - E Elwood 3

Pontypridd qualify for the semi-finals with a 47-39 aggregate victory

Recent results

Connacht: - 04/01 Lost (Leinster 25-3)

Pontypridd: 21/12 Beat Cardiff 12-10(h), 30/12 Beat Neath 29-20(a). 04/01/ Lost Ebbw Vale 6-10(h) (all in Welsh Premiership).