The home side pushed their visitors all the way and picked up three tries of their own in a game that was evenly poised at the break with the home team trailing by a mere four points. Popham crossed for the first of his side’s four tries, all of which he converted, and he also added a drop goal.
The game began with a minute’s silence in memory of the 42-year-old former Dunvant player of the Nineties, Anthony “Ajax” Thomas, who was tragically killed at work three days before the game, leaving behind his partner and their seven-month old daughter. A collection at the game raised more than £200 for the family.
Suitably inspired, the home pack put in a tremendous shift and paved the way for their back line to flourish. Centre Sam Crowley, scrum half Aled Lewis and wing Adam Williams-Parry crossed for tries and outside half James Davies added two conversions and two penalties.
A try by Dan Vella at the start of the second half, while Jacob Williams was still in the sin-bin for the home side, gave Tata some breathing space and they also picked up a penalty try later on to complete the bonus point.
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Hywel Chatham helped Beddau claim their first win of the season with an emphatic 69-3 victory over Newcastle Emlyn. Chatham converted all nine tries for the home side as well as landing two penalties in a 29 point individual haul.
Joe Casella, Carl Lewis, James Cashin, Cody Baker, Callum Wheeler, Kristian Parker, Chatham, Adam Ashford, Jordon Goodwin were all on the scoresheet as the Green & Golds made light work of their opponents.
Cardiff Met lost their unbeaten record as they went down away to Narberth 39-6. Liam Hutchins and Jack Price both bagged a brace of tries with Dan Smith and James Bain also scoring as the Students suffered their first loss of the campaign.
Pontypool made it four wins out of four as they ran out 33-10 winners away to Glynneath. James Roberts had given the home side a 10-7 lead briefly in the first-half before the visitors pulled away once again to secure the bonus-point. Pontypool have now claimed 19 points from a possible 20 in their opening four matches.
Newbridge claimed their first points of the season with a 31-21 win over Bedlinog while Skewen scraped out a close-fought 20-19 victory over Glamorgan Wanderers. Two yellow cards cost the Wanderers dearly as they once again missed out in a tight scoreline.
James Loxton scored twice and Aaron Fowler got a third try and Luke Fish converted two of them. But Skewen held out to snatch a big win over one of their fellow promoted teams this season to leave the Wanderers firmly anchored to the bottom of the table and still seeking their first win.
