The visitors’ outside half scored all his side’s points with a try, conversion and four penalties as they came out on top 19-17 – the exact score by which they lost to their Gwent rivals in a league meeting at the Welfare Ground last month.
Meek scored all his points in a virtuoso first-half performance down the Pontypool Park slope to hoist Newbridge into a 19-5 lead. The home revival was too little, too late, even though they managed to outscore their rivals by three tries to one.
Ashley Norton grabbed two tries to add to a penalty try for the home team and Clayton Gullis added one conversion to cut the gap to two points.
Swalec Championship leaders Ebbw Vale scored eight tries in their 71-13 demolition of Beddau in a game that saw second row Rhys Clarke help himself to four tries. Unsurprisingly, he picked up the man of the match award.
No 8 Spencer Gibson picked up two push over tries and there were others from acting skipper Ronny Kynes, Dak James, Wes Cunliffe, Liam Roberts and Ashley Sweet. Ian Smerdon landed seven conversion and Tom McAloon grabbed one.
There was last minute drama at the Talbot Athletic Ground where an 88th minute penalty from the veteran Aberavon outside half Jamie Davies earned the Wizards’ a 21-19 victory over Bridgend Ravens. The visitors raced into a 12-0 lead, but were trailing by a point, 13-12, at the break.
Tries from Chris Williams and Jamie Dixon, one of which Ross Jones converted, gave the Ravens a handy lead, but a Neil White try, and eight points from the boot of Davies, edged the Wizards in front.
Chris Morgan’s try made it 18-12 to the home side before Jones converted a penalty try to edge the Ravens ahead 19-18. Then came the final penalty from a scrum in the Ravens 22 and Davies stepped up to kick the winning goal.
Cardiff Met had to hang on grimly in the second half of their home clash with Blackwood before reaching the second round thanks to a 14-7 win. The students led 14-0 at the break thanks to tries from Tim Thomson and Chris Lewis, both converted by Tim Cooke, but fell way in the second half.
Blackwood came thundering back into the contest with a try from No 8 Lee Taylor, which outside half Paul Emanuelli converted, and could have got even closer.
Llanelli had five tries from their potent back line to thank for their safe passage into the second round. Tata Steel were dispatched 38-10 at Parc y Scarlets with tries from James Griffiths (2), Gareth Walters, Nic Harwood and James Ball, all of which Dion Jones converted to end with 13 points.
Carmarthen Quins ran in six tries, all of which Craig Evans converted, in their 45-21 win over Swansea at St Helen’s. Jason Harries grabbed a hat-trick and Dylan Morgans, Rhys Williams and
Howard Thomas got the others.
Swansea were 31-7 own at the break and trailed 45-7 before a late rally earned them some comfort with tries from Paul John and Aled Jenkins. Nearby at The Gnoll, Neath were beaten 23-17 by Cross Keys.
The boot of outside half Dorian Jones was vital for Keys, with his two drop goals and penalty I the first-half laying the foundation for victory. Two tries flowed in the second half as Keys raced into a 23-3 lead before Neath battled back into the game.
Ties from Ceri Young and Ieuan Dobbs, both of which Dai Langdon converted, helped to reduce the deficit to a much more respectable level.
The games between Llanharran, Newport and Bonymaen and Bargoed v Bedwas were all postponed due to the weather.
SWALEC Cup Round One Results
Aberavon 21 Bridgend 19
Bargoed v Bedwas (POSTPONED)
Cardiff Met 14 Blackwood 7
Ebbw Vale 71 Beddau 13
Llanelli 38 Tata Steel 10
Llanharan v Tondu (POSTPONED)
Neath 17 Cross Keys 23
Newport v Bonymaen (POSTPONED)
Pontypool 17 Newbridge 19
Swansea 21 Carmarthen Quins 45
Byes: Pontypridd, Llandovery, Cardiff, Narberth, Bridgend Athletic, RGC 1404.
