Round Up: Principality Premiership

Fullback MacLaughlan got the Steelmen on their way with a try after barely sixty seconds and followed it up with another on twenty-four minutes for a 10-0 half-time lead. Gary Miles and Simon Hunt also crossed but the leaders were forced to hang on as Bedwas threatened to pull off a shock comeback. Phil Doleman booted 14 points including a conversion after Telon Mafi crossed eight minutes from time but Ebbw proved too strong in the end.

Aled Bevan crossed twice late on to send Neath to a comfortable 48-13 win over Llandovery at the Gnoll. The Welsh All Blacks ran in seven tries against the league’s basement side to leap into second place with Pontypridd and Newport meeting in mid-week.

Hooker Gerwyn Price broke the deadlock after 26 minutes before Arwel Thomas and wing Neil Clapham crossed to put Neath in the driving seat at half-time. Drovers wing Gruffydd Jones responded for Llandovery but Neath broke their resistance with four tries in the final 20 minutes through Kevin James, Paul James and Bevan’s brace.

Cross Keys were reduced to 13 men against Llanelli and had another two players sin binned before pulling off a remarkable win at Stradey Park. Lock Ben Watkins and scrum-half Ryan James were both given their marching orders while second-row Will Thomas and prop Richard Cornock saw yellow.

Llanelli’s Rob McCusker was also sin binned but tries from Tom Lampard, Gary Harrington, Gareth Turner and Jonathan Hill clinched a 27-24 win for Keys.

Gareth McCarthy could not save Glamorgan Wanders from going down 34-31 to Cardiff at the Memorial Ground. McCarthy scored 21 points, including two tries, but Craig Evans was also on-form with 19 points for the Blues and Blacks, who scored tries through Rhys Gill, Elgan Jones and Ross Johnston.

James Pike completed a 24-16 victory for Aberavon against Bridgend after Robbie Morgan had got the Wizards on their way with the opening try. Swansea won 14-11 at Maesteg thanks to a try from Ricky Williams.