CROSS Keys are through to the quarter-finals of the Welsh National Cup after they knocked out six times winners Neath at Pandy Park, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.

The Gwent Valleys side, the 2012 holders, were full value for the win against a resurgent visiting team who had posted recent impressive league victories on the road at Cardiff and Llanelli.

Keys got off to a great start, Mathew Powell touching down for a try after his teammate on the wing Nathan Trowbridge tapped back a cross-kick.

Outstanding outside-half Josh Prosser’s fine touchline conversion made it 7-0 in as many minutes.

But Neath hit back when, after a long period of sustained pressure, wing Aaron Grabham crossed in the corner.

Full-back Ed Howley’s impressive touchline conversion of the try drew the scores level after 19 minutes.

But Keys hit back from the restart when Prosser nailed a penalty.

Some great runs and offloads by number eight Ieuan Jones and blindside Adam Powell helped set up a penalty which the reliable Prosser duly kicked to give the hosts a 13-7 lead after half an hour.

With the Gnoll side living dangerously offside, they were picked up again by referee Gareth John and Prosser drilled his third penalty.

And there was a fourth from the No 10 with the last kick of the half as the dominant Keys pack had Neath in all sorts of problems again at the scrum and went 19-7 up.

The visitors came out pumped up for the second half, Howley reducing the arrears with a penalty after four minutes.

But the Welsh All Blacks’ hopes of a comeback were dented when their captain and blindside Jordan Collier was yellow carded for infringing as an impressive drive by the home pack made rapid territory.

The visitors gave away yet another penalty soon after, the deadly Prosser punishing them again after 51 minutes.

The Pandy Park outfit bossed the second half and got the score they deserved when Jones went over from close range, converted by Prosser who ended the game with a 19-point haul.

It was a big day for two Keys stalwarts, tighthead prop Richard Cornock and lock Dan Hodge, who were making their 250th and 200th appearances respectively, and playing key roles in the triumph.

Cross Keys: L Andrews, M Powell (J Goodchild 65), L Barnett (B Nightingale 73), P Williams, N Trowbridge, J Prosser, J Leadbeater (O Leonard 73), L Smout (G Carpenter 73), D Hughes (capt) (R Jones 73), R Cornock (G Price-Jones 78), D Hodge (T Lampard 65), S Andrews, A Powell, J Thomas (R Fitzgerald 65), I Jones.

Cross Keys scorers: Tries – M Powell, I Jones, Conversions – J Prosser (2), Penalties – Prosser (5).

Neath: E Howley, A Grabham, G Evans, M Pearce, A Jenkins, R Morgan-Williams (G Morris 74), C Morgans (R Morgan-Williams 52), B Uphill (N White 74), S Crocker (C Jones 79), R Thomas; R Jones, J Barley (J Griffiths 34); J Collier (capt), A Morris (C Davies 61), L Ward (T Hayward 79).

Neath scorers: Try – A Grabham, Conversion – E Howley, Penalty – Howley.

Referee: Gareth John (Chepstow)

Argus star man: Josh Prosser