The latest rugby stories making headlines from Wales and around the world
These are your headlines on the evening of Sunday, April 12.
Welsh Cup final ends in drama
Blaina RFC wing Regan Watkins scored a last-gasp try to secure a dramatic 18-17 victory over Abercrave RFC in the Division One Cup final at the Principality Stadium.
Abercrave came mightily close to glory but a lineout close to the line at the death did not go to hand. Instead it was Watkins who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Blaina off the back of a well-worked driving lineout; the perfect prize in what is their 150th anniversary season.
Hooker Daniel Wall also touched down for Blaina, while there was also eight points from the boots of Richard Powell and Adam Tetley.
Nick Evans scored Abercrave’s only try, while Steffan Castle kicked 12 points.
“I just joined the maul and thought ‘let’s just have a push’. The next thing I knew the ball was in my chest,” Watkins told the WRU website.
“I saw line and I just dived over, although I wasn’t sure if it was the try line or the five-metre line. It was mental because all of a sudden, I had about 20 bodies diving on top of me.
“This is my first year in senior rugby after re-joining the club from Ebbw Vale Youth and I’d never played at Principality Stadium before. I couldn’t have asked for a better day.
“That’s got to be the easiest try I’ve ever scored, from about two inches out, but easily the best I’ve ever scored.”
In the other results at the Principality on Sunday Llandaff North beat Bonymaen 29-14 in he WRU Women’s Cup final and Bedwas saw off Bridgend Athletic 38-29 in the WRU Championship Cup.
Neath and Merthyr meet in WRU Premiership Cup final on Sunday evening (5.45pm KO).
Wales take huge strides forward
Former Wales Women playmaker Elinor Snowsill insists Sean Lynn’s side took huge strides forward despite yesterday’s 24-19 defeat to Scotland in the opening round of the Six Nations.
The opening-round setback put Wales on the back foot from the get go before facing France at the Principality Stadium next Saturday.
But Snowsill insists there was plenty in Wales’ performance to be encouraged by.
“If we look at the game as a whole there were some huge strides taken forward by Wales,” she told the BBC.
“They are looking much more comfortable in defence, their systems and their structures, with some really dominant shots going in.
“They are making themselves a team that’s hard to score against, and that’s exactly what we want.
“We’ve come out with a very heavy kicking game, but when we kept the ball in hand we showed promise.”
Former Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap agreed, pointing out Wales’ attack was much improved.
“It was a hugely improved performance, we probably startled Scotland at first, they didn’t know what was coming at them, especially from a defensive point of view,” Lillicrap told the BBC.
“I thought in the first 30 the attack looked much better, they were testing Scotland’s defence, but credit to Scotland, in that second half they came out and they found that kick space in the wide channels.”
Defending champions knock out European giants in thrilling clash
Bordeaux knocked Toulouse out of the Investec Champions Cup at the quarter-final stage by securing a convincing 30-15 victory at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.
The defending champions came from behind to stun the Top 14 leaders, with tries from Maxime Lamothe, Matthieu Jalibert, Ben Tameifuna and Arthur Retiere, while Maxime Lucu kicked 10 points.
Romain Ntamack and Teddy Thomas scored Toulouse’s tries, with Thomas Ramos kicking five points.
Bordeaux drew first blood after 23 minutes when Lamothe touched down off the back of a well-worked driving lineout before the visitors hit back when Ntamack hit a wicked angle to score.
Toulouse’s task got even harder when tighthead prop Dorian Aldegheri received a 20-minute red card after a sickening hit to the head of Damian Penaud.
But it didn’t deter Toulouse from scoring a terrific try which was finished by Thomas at the corner, meaning the visitors held a 12-5 lead at the interval.
Ramos extended Toulouse’s lead with a successful penalty kick after the break but Bordeaux took complete control thereafter as they completely dominated the visitors at the breakdown.
Jalibert soon crossed the hosts’ second try before Antoine Dupont got sent to the sin bin for an intentional trip.
There was to be no way back for Toulouse with Tameifuna and Retiere crossing for Bordeaux to set-up a semi-final clash with English champions Bath.
Slade kicks winning penalty as Exeter edge Benetton
By Press Association Sport Reporters
A late penalty from Henry Slade saw Exeter edge out Benetton 44-41 and set up a Challenge Cup semi-final against Ulster in Belfast.
Jacob Umaga’s try had given hosts Benetton a 41-38 lead with 15 minutes to go but Slade kicked a penalty to level it four minutes later, and then split the posts again in the 78th minute to win it – to the fury of the home fans.
In a frantic first half, Exeter led 14-7 after an early Olly Woodburn score and a penalty try, then went 24-14 up after Immanuel Feyi-Waboso barged his way over and Slade added a conversion and then a penalty.
The hosts were level at the break after an outstanding try from Onisi Ratave was followed by a conversion and penalty from Jacob Umaga, but Harvey Skinner’s converted try two minutes into the second half had Exeter in front once again.
Although Bautista Bernasconi dragged Benetton back level, it was 38-31 to the visitors when Andrea Zambonin crossed from short range in the 48th minute.
Umaga kicked his second penalty in the 63rd minute and then moments later scored a try – that he converted – to give Benetton the lead for the first time since the eighth minute, but Slade’s boot had the final say.