The Steelmen ran out 31-24 victors after conceding an early try to Josh Lewis, but picked up their fourth try to complete a full-house of points when Tom Hiscock crossed the visitors’ line. It took them up to 36 points in second place, five points behind the leaders.
The opening two tries for last season’s SWALEC Championship winners came via their strong scrummaging platform as they picked up a penalty try when the Llanelli pack crumbled at a scrum close to their line and then created the platform for scrum half Rhys Downes to nip over for a second.
Josh Jacas added a third try before the break and Ian Smerdon converted all three. Lewis converted his own try, kicked a penalty and also converted a try by Josh Adams to keep Llanelli in contention at the break.
A third visitor’s try, once again converted by Lewis, increased the pressure on the nerves of the home supporters, but when Hiscock raced clear for the bonus point try, and Smerdon added the conversion, all was safe.
Pontypridd were denied a bonus point by some desperate last ditch defending from Cross Keys s they ran out 27-10 victors at Sardis Road. Keys did well to stay in touch in a scrappy first-half with a try from Ethan Davies and a conversion and penalty from former Wales Under 20 outside half Angus O’Brien
The champions had first-half tries from Ellis Jenkins and Garin Smith, both converted by Lewis Williams, who also landed a penalty, for their 17-10 interval advantage and Aled Summerhill added a third try in the second half.
Simon Humberstone converted that one and Williams added a second penalty, but the crucial fourth try never materialised for the home side despite Keys playing for 20 minutes with 14 men after Scott Matthews and Reuben Tucker picked up yellow cards.
Cardiff continued their rise up the rankings with a 22-20 home win over Bedwas, but it could have been so different had Tom Rowlands landed a 79th minute penalty shot for the visitors. Bedwas outscored the Arms Park outfit by two tries to one and hit back to lead 17-16 in the second half.
Dan Crimmins and Jack Maynard crossed for the Bedwas tries, both of which Maynard converted. Cardiff’s only try came from Ellis Wyn Benham and Dean Gunter added a conversion and three penalties to make it 16-14 at the break.
There were two penalties apiece in the second half, with Maynard taking his match tally to 15 points and Gunter and James Whittingham added one each for the Blue and Blacks, but it was a contest that really could have gone either way.
The trusty boot of Craig Evans kept Carmathen Quins in touch with visiting Aberavon in the first-half as he kicked three penalties to allow the Wizards a mere one point lead, 10-9, but a near length of the field interception try from Darren Ryan in the closing moments eventually allowed the visitors to stretch their winning margin to 14 points.
Sam Williams crossed for Aberavon’s first try and Ceirion Thomas converted and added a penalty before the break. Thomas kicked two more penalties in the second half and then added the extras to Ryan’s breakaway score.
Llandovery ran in four tries in their 35-6 home win over Newport, who lost outside half Jamie Murphy to a 67th minute red card. Richard Brooks, James Garland, Gareth Owen and Richard Williams crossed for the home scores and Garland ended the game with a tally of 18 points as he added two of the three conversions and kicked three penalties.
Bridgend ended a run of two successive defeats as they picked up a bonus point in their 27-23 triumph over Neath at The Gnoll. The visitors were 17-8 ahead at the break thanks to tries from Mike Powell and Ross Jones that James Dixon converted.
Dixon also added a penalty after the break and Ashley James and Olly Cracknell completed the quest for a bonus point as they grabbed the two extra tries. Neath scored tries through Jordan Collier, Rhodri Cole and Scott Otten and got back to within a point at one stage in the second half, but suffered from losing two players to the sin-bin.
