KNOCKOUT specialists Cross Keys booked their place in the second round of the WRU National Cup after brushing aside Championship outfit Glynneath at a boggy Abernant Park, writes Tom Coleman.

Despite taking an early lead through a Corey Jenkins penalty, the hosts were soon pinned back by Lewis Barnett’s superb first-half touchdown.

Josh Prosser added the extras before converting a penalty try and a score from Ieuan Jones as Keys took command.

A second-half blitz then saw Nathan Trowbridge, Matthew Powell and Darren Hughes crash over, before Scott Matthews marked his return to action with a touchdown from the bench during a comfortable afternoon for the visitors.

Having reached the last four of the competition in four of the last five years, the manner of this victory will come as a massive confidence boost for the 2012 winners, as they bid to make a return to the Principality Stadium.

Despite dominating the contest from the start, an early Corey Jones penalty handed the hosts the lead, although superiority in the pack ensured Keys kept their opponents on the back foot for much of the first half.

The visitors’ class shone through on 18 minutes, as an electric turn of pace allowed Barnett to evade the attention of the Glynneath defence and crash over the line for a converted score.

Glynneath, without talismanic number-eight Stuart Leach, did their best to respond, but Keys continued to dominate and added another 14 points to their tally before the break.

Prosser duly converted a penalty try after Glynneath were penalised for wheeling the scrum on the line, before adding the extras to Ieuan Jones’ touchdown, which arrived after a fine drive into the corner.

Josh Ferryman came close to an unlikely breakthrough for the hosts after the interval but was halted inches from the line.

Keys were unmoved and soon stretched their lead. A lovely sweeping move allowed Trowbridge to find space on the left and go over, with Prosser again adding the extras.

The visitors weren’t finished, as a mistake from substitute Sam Langford allowed Powell to pounce and cross the whitewash, before skipper Hughes added another converted score. Matthews then marked his return to action after four months out with a converted try of his own, as the Premiership outfit cruised their way into round two.

Scorers: Glynneath – Pen: C Jenkins

Cross Keys: Tries – L Barnett, penalty, I Jones, N Trowbridge, M Powell, D Hughes, S Matthews, Cons – J Prosser (7)

Glynneath: J Ferryman; A Evans, J Griffiths, J O’Reilly, W Thomas; C Jenkins (D Francis 55), R Jones (A Burton 55); O Jordan (D Jones 40), C Tennant (S Langford 40), K Marney, S Moses, N Ace, C McPhee, J Parry (capt), R Tibbett

Cross Keys: L Andrews; M Powell (S Matthews 63), L Barnett, P Williams, N Trowbridge; J Prosser, J Leadbeater (R Pritchard 63); L Smout (G Price-Jones 66), D Hughes (capt) (R Jones 64) R Cornock (G Carpenter 66), D Hodge, S Andrews, A Powell, R Fitzgerald, I Jones

Referee: Simon Rees (WRU)

Argus star man: Rhys Fitzgerald (Cross Keys)