CROSS KEYS 32 PONTYPRIDD 19

CROSS Keys head coach Greg Woods now wants his side to build on yesterday’s superb 32-19 Swalec Cup win over Pontypridd which brought the club their first trophy in 127 years.

Keys got over the heartache of losing their first cup final appearance nine days ago in the last stage of the British & Irish Cup to Munster A with an excellent all-round team performance.

They didn’t have it easy and found themselves trailing 13-6 at the Millennium Stadium at half-time to a Ponty side who were well on top. But Woods’ men showed great courage and ability to outscore Dale McIntosh’s side 26-6 in a one-sided second half.

The game’s great turning point was outstanding hooker Gerwyn Price’s incredible individual try in the 68th minute to put them 24-19 up.

Keys outside half Dean Gunter, who transferred from Ponty earlier in the season, had just put them on level terms with a penalty before Price outpaced the opposition backs from over the halfway line from the re-start.

A delighted Woods said about winning their first ever trophy: “A lot of teams were saying we had run out of steam.

“People say the first trophy is the hardest to win and we are one of the top sides now.

“What we’ve got to do now is to keep building.

“The key thing for the management of the club is that we keep this core group together.

“They were all outstanding but cups are won on big moments and Gerwyn’s try was special – I think it’ll go down as a great try in cup history. It was an unbelievable try.”

But the victory came at a cost with impressive number eight Rhys Williams taken to hospital with a broken foot.