WRU National Bowl semi final:

Pembroke 12-32 Cardiff University

It was a tremendous cup run – but there will be no Principality Stadium appearance for Pembroke as they were beaten by Cardiff University in their National WRU Bowl semi-final at Dunvant this afternoon.

Geraint Lewis’ side battled hard and had their moments, with tries through half backs Tom Lewis and Toby Smith, but in truth were unable to match the tempo of the students who were far more clinical as they ran in five tries.

And via outstanding flankers Luke Waller and Gareth Ansell, the University side were dominant at the breakdown and never allowed The Scarlets to impose themselves for any prolonged periods.

Yet things started promisingly for skipper Scott Powell and his side as after both teams had wasted attacking lineout positions, it was the Pembroke pack who signalled their intent with two powerful scrums that resulted in Cardiff hooker Joel Williams being forced off with injury.

But the students soon settled, and showed their willingness to go wide as wingers Kyle Hughes and James Scarfi both threatened with runs from deep.

And it was the latter who helped create the opening try, speeding down the left flank and into the Pembroke 22, laying the platform from which centre Harry Griffiths powered over in the corner.

The Scarlets responded as scrum half Tom Lewis went quickly from a penalty and darted towards the Cardiff line, but was then penalised for holding on under pressure from skipper Ansell.

Young No 9 Lewis fashioned another attack with a ‘tap and go’ minutes later, from which Pembroke were awarded another penalty in front of the posts with their opponents penalised for not retreating the 10 metres.

Powell opted to turn down three points in favour of a close range scrum, and from the platform outside half Toby Smith almost broke through before his off-load went to ground, and both No 8 Sam Smith and centre Sion Dalling were also stopped short of the line before Waller won a superb turnover on his own line.

It proved pivotal as midway through the half Cardiff struck again as full back Connor Graney countered from a Smith clearance kick, before a surging run from Ansell saw him eventually hauled down just before the line, and replacement hooker Dan Hostetler picked up and did the rest.

By this point the students had addressed their early set piece problems, and on the half hour mark they added a third try from close range scrum.

Although there attempt at a pushover try came up short, it was from that platform they battered away at the line before Waller crashed under the posts. After being off target with his first two attempts, No 10 Finn Robjohn added the extras to make it 17-0.

Things got worse for Pembroke as flanker Billy Wood was forced off with injury, but then with the final play of the half, the Division Three West A side grabbed a lifeline.

It was No 8 Smith who peeled off a lineout and charged into the Cardiff 22, and although a jinking Dalling was again denied near the line, Lewis sniped from the ruck and reached out to score. Dalling converted.

It brought huge cheers from the large Pembroke contingent of supporters who had made the trip to Dunvant, but with the Scarlets realistically needing to strike first in the second half, it was Cardiff who re-assumed control after the interval.

A high tackle on scrum half on scrum half Andy Lott presented Robjohn with a simple penalty which he sent between the uprights, and then it was second rows Jack Hollford and Charlie Stonehill who combined to all but seal the win.

Hollford burst through a gap in midfield before supplying the scoring pass to his ‘boiler house’ partner, who duly went under the posts and Robjohn did the rest to make it 27-7.

The No 10’s influence continued to grow as he pinned Pembroke back with some probing kicks, forcing the Scarlets to try and attack from deep and one quickly take 22 drop out from Smith found winger Simon Stanford, who crossed half way before finding full back Luke Hartland on his inside, but his grubber kick forward came to nothing.

And to their credit, Lewis’ men refused to give in, and got a second try when another burst from Smith set up a try for brother Toby, who took a pop pass from Powell before squeezing over in the corner.

Yet it was Cardiff who finished the stronger, and the bounce of the ball just evaded Griffiths over the line from a clever chip from Robjohn.

But moments later it was Griffiths’ partner in midfield, Tudor Forbes, who had the final word as after another spell of pressure he showed neat footwork to cut inside the cover defence and go over from close range.

It meant the end of the road in the National Bowl for The Scarlets after a brilliant cup run, and afterwards coach Lewis told Telegraph Sport he was proud of his players.

“We’ve had an outstanding run but lost today to a talented side,” he said.

“We had to come through a number of tough away ties to get here and I’m proud of all the players.

“Today we just couldn’t impose our game on them and we let them impose themselves on us.”

Lewis and co will now turn their attentions to the Division Three West A title race, where they currently sit in prime position to be promoted, and their Pembrokeshire KO Cup semi-final with rivals Pembroke Dock Harlequins.

Caridff University meanwhile, will face Porthcawl in the Bowl final at the Principality Stadium on Sunday, April 29th.

Pembroke: Luke Hartland, Elliot Evans, Sean Dalling, Dan Colley, Simon Stanford, Toby Smith, Tom Lewis, Lloyd Davies, Tim Sharpe, Jonny Palmer, Scott Powell (capt), Will Edwards, Rhodri Walters, Billy Wood, Sam Smith.

Replacements: Jamie Brayford, Cyle Weatherall, Alex Thomas, Jim Brace, Alex Wilkes, Barry Alderman-John, Fraser James, Tom Harding-Jones.

Cardiff University: Connor Graney, Kyle Hughes, Harry Griffiths, Tudor Forbes, James Scarfi, Finn Robjohn, Andy Lott, Rob Hurley, Joel Williams, Dave Fellows, Jack Hollford, Charlie Stonehill, Luke Waller, Gareth Ansell (capt), Chris Williams.

Replacements: Frazer Martin, Dan Hostetler, Dan Morgan, Justin Rowlands, Rowan Davies, Royce Tooth, Alwyn Davies.

Referee: Nathan Davies.

Assistants: Richard Nuth and Anthony Kavanagh.