The young fly-half, who led the Black and Ambers to a miraculous comeback win
over Caerphilly last weekend, kicked 14 points as Newport sneaked home 19-15 at
Ebbw Vale, whose big backrower Manu Tuipulotu scored twice in a losing effort.
Second-placed Neath kept up the pressure with a 34-17 victory over third-placed
Carmarthen Quins at the Gnoll, with Mike Jones slotting 14 points with the
boot.
Llanelli’s miserable Premier season continued as Bridgend fly-half Paul Smith
kicked five penalty goals in a 15-12 victory at the Brewery Field. Huge
Llanelli backrower Gavin Quinnell – the latest in the Welsh rugby dynasty –
scored two tries, but the Scarlets couldn’t bridge the gap in the final
minutes.
Cross Keys scored four tries, with fly-half Darren Miles adding 15 points with
the boot as they came away from Bedwas with a 35-18 victory, but the upset of
the round came at Aberavon’s World of Hurt ground.
The only ones hurting at the fulltime whistle were the damp Wizards fans as
Llandovery scored three tries in a 28-16 victory. Ricky Williams kicked five
goals as the Drovers out-played their vaunted rivals in all departments.
Pontypool ended their awful run with a great fightback against Pontypridd at
Pooler Park. The Valley Commandoes led 20-6 after 65 minutes thanks to a brace
of tries to veteran fly-half Neil Boobyer, but the home side dug deep to score
twice themselves and Stuart Lawrence’s conversions salvaged a 20-20 draw.
The Newbridge-Caerphilly clash was called off because of a waterlogged pitch.
Results: Aberavon 16 Llandovery 28, Bedwas 18 Cross Keys 35, Bridgend 15
Llanelli 12, Ebbw Vale 15 Newport 19, Neath 34 Carmarthen Quins 17,
Newbridge v Caerphilly (called off), Pontypool 20 Pontypridd 20.
