ASDA LEAGUE DIVISON ONE NEWS

The unbeaten Swansea side hammered Ystrad Rhondda 44-0 before returning to their clubhouse and learning that second-placed Narberth and third-placed Whitland finished on the wrong side of the scoreboard in their games. Bonymaen are now five points clear at the top after their five-try victory, with Cwmllynfell sneaking into second spot with a 24-10 win at Fleur de Lys, who remain rock-bottom on the table.
“Finding out that the other two sides lost was a very pleasant surprise,” Bonymaen forwards coach Ieuan Jones admitted. “It’s a nice little bonus. We started a bit rusty against Ystrad – it took us about 25 minutes to really hit our straps – but then the tries started coming.
“I think we’re playing a great brand of rugby. We’re blending up front, and have the ability to spin the ball out wide. We like playing an open brand of rugby, and so do our fans, but we know we have to do the hard work up front, and we’re not scared of doing it.
“We’ve got a tough game up at Merthyr next weekend – they’re always hard to beat at home – so I guess it’s back to the drawing board for us.”
Bonymaen goal-kicker Gareth James banged over 15 points to add to the 22 he scored against UWIC last weekend, with Jason Wride, Alan Powell and Euan Hopkins scoring tries for the second successive match.
Narberth’s hopes of clinging to Bonymaen’s coat-tails were ruined in a 28-27 thriller at UWIC, with the students taking a 16-6 lead at halftime and bravely holding on to clinch all three points. UWIC front-rowers Ken Owen and Huw Gustaffson were among the try-scorers for the winners, with Narberth scrum-half Adrian Killa keeping his side in touch with five goals.
Whitland would have fancied their chances against an under-performing Builth Wells side at the Groe ground, but home fly-half Rob Lloyd banged over three penalty goals and a snap dropped-goal to earn a 12-8 victory in a hard-fought but dull match.
Former Premiership club Caerphilly are getting used to life in Division 1, and fans at Virginia Park were treated to a fine game of running rugby as their side demolished Beddau 40-12. Caerphilly fullback James Balfrey scored a try and kicked seven goals for a personal haul of 21 points as his side retained their unbeaten home record. Beddau’s chances weren’t helped by the 24th-minute red card to Dean Barnes for punching.
Blackwood secured their first point of the season with a 16-all draw at home to Waunarlwydd, who continue to impress in their first season at this level. Winger David James and fullback Greg Davis scored tries for Blackwood, but 11 points from the boot of Waunarlwydd’s Paul Davis ensured that the two clubs shared the points.
Llangennech have racked up three victories already this season, but they came back to earth with a thud when Merthyr sent them home with a 34-8 hiding to think about. Merthyr No. 8 Jason Price scored two tries in the one-sided match, with Llangennech lock Iestyn Evans supplying his club’s only five-pointer.
Newbridge fly-half Greg Callow scored all the points in his side’s tough 15-7 victory over Llanharan, with the Welfare Ground men keeping their visitors scoreless in a brave second-half performance.