CARDIGAN produced a superb all-round effort to reach the last eight of the Swalec Bowl with a 23-7 win over Denbigh, and they are now only two games away from a final at the national stadium.

After notching wins over St Davids, Laugharne, Usk and Betws in previous rounds, they were too good on the day for the Division Two North West outfit.

The north Walians, however, had come to play rugby, and helped produce a very entertaining game at the King George.

The large crowd were given something to shout about very early in this game as fly half Iestyn Crompton chipped over a penalty kick, and soon afterwards centre Emyr Harries rounded off an excellent move to touch down for the opening try.

Back rower Gareth Clifford initiated this score with a powerful burst, and this was carried on by props Tomos Evans and Ben Hughes, before Harries did the rest.

Another Cardigan try soon followed when open side flanker Kieran Hurley grounded the ball over the try line, after a driving maul was walked in from the 22 metre line, and the touchline conversion by Crompton opened up a 15-0 lead.

Denbigh, who had threatened a number of times through their dangerous looking back line hit back with a try from pacey winger Jamie Winning, after the ball was moved swiftly through the three quarters, and full back Dan O Sullivan converted.

The Cardigan back row of Hurley, Clifford and skipper Llyr Griffiths, however, were outstanding, and the home side increased their lead just before half time.

From a bullocking run by loose head prop Tomos Evans, Marcus Castle took advantage of a fortuitous bounce to claim the ball and dive over for the try, as Cardigan completed the first half with a 20-7 lead, albeit with a strong wind advantage.

Denbigh started positively after the interval, but failed to use the very strong wind effectively and spent a large part of the second half in their own twenty-two.

With the Cardigan forwards dominating at the line out and pushing them off their own ball at the scrum, it came as a major surprise that the only score of the second half was another penalty from the boot of experienced old head Crompton, who had marshalled his back line very well.

The visitors, who were well led by captain and second row David Haydock, played some lovely rugby at times through the likes of outside half Garin Roberts, centres Matt Hulse and Owain Davies and wingers Jones and Jamie Winning, but the final pass was lacking.

Cardigan though defended very aggressively and they will be keeping their fingers crossed for another home draw.