Reigning champions Ebbw Vale got out of jail at St Helen’s when they conjured up a 29-16 bonus-point win having trailed 16-3 at half-time to bottom of the table Swansea. It took second half tries from Ronny Kynes, Ethan Doyle, Rhys Clarke and Dawid Rubasniak to turn the game on its head along with nine points from the boot of Josh Lewis.
There was another close shave at The Gnoll, where struggling Newport emerged triumphant 12-10 to move three points clear of Bargoed and four ahead of Swansea in the basement battle. Matt O’Brien kicked three penalties and a drop goal in the first-half to give the visitors a 12-3 interval lead, but an Aaron Bramwell try that Ed Howley converted created a tense final 30 minutes.
League leaders Aberavon take their seven match unbeaten record into a home game against Cardiff on Friday night hoping to stay clear of the chasing pack. They were beaten 25-24 in a Foster’s Challenge Cup at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on 12 October.
Nearest rivals Merthyr head to much improved Bridgend, while Pontypridd have to take on the Drovers in Llandovery in another tough away trip. Bargoed will be targeting a much need home win when they entertain Cross Keys.
Saturday lunchtime will see RGC 1404 entertain Llanelli at Parc Eirias, where only Aberavon have won to date this season. Former Wales wing Mark Jones has turned the north Walians into a difficult side to beat and will be relishing the chance to put one over on his former club. Bedwas, who lie in fourth place, host Carmarthen Quins in another crucial lunchtime kick-off.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 8
Friday, 4 November
Aberavon v Cardiff (K-O 19:30)
Bargoed v Cross Keys (K-O 19:15)
Bridgend v Merthyr (K-O 19:30)
Llandovery v Pontypridd (K-O 19:30)
Saturday, 5 November
Bedwas v Carmarthen Quins (K-O 12:00)
RGC 1404 v Llanelli (K-O 12:00)
Results: Neath 10, Newport 12; Swansea 16, Ebbw Vale 29
TEAMS
Friday, 4 November
Aberavon v Cardiff
Aberavon: Joe Gage; Jay Baker, Will Price, David Evans, Stef Andrews; James Garland, David Pritchard; Rhys Forse, Ieuan Davies, Jon Thomas, Ian Moore (capt), Sam Williams, Lee Purnell, Luke Joseph, Joe Tomalin-Reeves.
Reps: Jacob Flynn, Steffen Williams, Matthew Jenkins, Luke Davies, Chris Davies, Alex Jeffries, Mike Burgess, Ben Jones
Cardiff: Cody Rees; James Beal, Harri Millard, Will Rees Hole, Ceri Young; Diggy Bird, Liam Free; Rob Lewis, Joe Tomlinson (capt), Kieron Assarratti, Jack Davies, James Murphy, Johnathan Edwards, Morgan Sienaiwski, Ben Thomas
Reps: Rhys Carre, Joe Page, Ben Leung, James Sheekey, Luke Crocker, Tom Slater, Paul King, Gareth Thompson
Bargoed v Cross Keys
Bargoed: Calum Jones; Duane Dyer, Darren Humphries, Lewis Protheroe, David Evans; Greg Callow, Matt Bancroft; Rhys Morgan (capt), Ian Jenkins, Keiron Brown, James Locke, Louis Blacker, Adam Coupe, Alex Herbert, Ross Coombes
Reps: Jack Williams, Alex Gardner-Key, Leigh Meades, Grant Rodgers, Gavin McDonnell, James Pizey, Luke Smalley, Lewis Bowden
Cross Keys: Ethan Davies; Mathew Powell, Leon Andrews, Barney Nightingale, Lewis Barnett; Josh Prosser, Owain Leonard; Luke Garrett, Darren Hughes (capt), Richard Cornock, Danny Hodge, Simon Williams, Tom Lampard, Josh Skinner, Ieuan Jones
Reps: Ellis Shipp, Corey Hewlett, Gary Carpenter, Liam Davies, Rhys Fitzgerald, James Thomas, James Leadbeater, Phil Williams.
Bridgend v Merthyr
Bridgend: Marc Bennett; Ryan Griffiths, Joe Gatt, Jamie Murphy, Mike Powell; Joe Scrivens, Will Baird; Ollie Evans, Iestyn Merriman, Keiron Jenkins, Jack Pope, Owain Lloyd, Zac O’Driscoll (capt), Adam O’Driscoll, Ashton Evans
Reps: Jordon Liney, Nicky Boyce, Cai Lewis, Matthew John, Gareth Beer, Chris Williams, Ryan Evans, Garin Lougher
Merthyr: Matt Jarvis; Kyle Evans, Matt Trowbridge, Arron Pinches, Ellis-Wyn Benhan; Gareth Davies, Rhys Downes; James Howe, Matt Dwyer, Nathan Buck, Ben Murphy, Craig Locke (capt), Ed Siggery, Tom Daley, Nathan White
Reps: Louis Jones, Rhys James, Rhys Williams, Ben Sier, Matt Rees, Adam Hoskins, Dean Gunter, John Rees
Llandovery v Pontypridd
Llandovery: Lee Rees; Rhodri Wall, Richard Smith, Craig Woodall, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Rhodri Davies; Dean Howells, Dafydd Hughes, Greg Cunniffe, Bryn Griffiths, Tadhg Beirne, Phil Day (capt), Duane Eager, Richard Brooks
Reps: Berian Watkins, Jamie Kaijaks, Joe Powell, Stuart Worrall, Ryan Williams, Shaun Miles, Rhodri Jones, James Davies
Pontypridd: Gary Williams; Alex Webber, Cameron Lewis, Dafydd Lockyer (capt), Dale Stuckey; Callum Hall, Joel Raikes; Joe Popple, Liam Belcher, Mitch Auger, Dan Godfrey, Josh Novell, Lee Evans, Rhys Shellard, Owen Sheppeard
Reps: Greg Mogford, Lewis K Williams, Declan Williams, Corrie Tarrant, Jake Thomas, Dafi Davies, Connor Lewis, Sam May
Saturday, 5 November
Bedwas v Carmarthen Quins
Bedwas: Aaron Bramwell; Phillip Pariyo, Mike Callow, James S. Dixon, Pat Lewis; James Dixon, Nicky Griffiths (capt); Brynley Toms, Darran Harris, Matthew Pettit, Geraint Edmonds, Rhys Verley, James Thomas, Andrew Waite, Dan Crimmins
Reps: Dan Preece, Alun Rees, Rhys Hutcherson, Robson Blake, Nathan Hudd, Luke Crane, Richard Powell, Connor Edwards
Carmarthen Quins: Gavin Thomas; Tom Williams, Iolo Evans, John Williams, Morgan Griffiths; Craig Evans, Connor Lloyd; Gethin Robinson, Rhodri Clancy, Nicky Thomas, Josh Helps, Haydn Pugh (capt), Shaun Evans, Elis Lloyd, Morgan Allen
Reps: Nathan Williams, Torin Myhill, Steffan Thomas, Ben Thompson, Lee Taylor, Gareth George, Steffan Marshall, Chris Banfield
RGC 1404 v Llanelli
RGC1404: Afon Bagshaw; Aron Evans, Tom Hughes, Tiaan Loots, Rhys Williams; Jacob Botica, Alex Schwarz; Joe Simpson, Rhys Williams, Ross Davies, Maredydd Francis (capt), Andrew Williams, Tim Grey, Will Bryan, Huw Worthington
Reps: Robin Williams, Tom Hughes, Jed Kerkin, Shaun O’Rourke, Mei Parry, Josh Leach, Sam Jones, Carwyn Ap Myrddin
Llanelli: Dion Jones; Kieran Jones, Ioan Nicholas, Jonny Lewis, Ryan Conbeer; Billy McBryde, Declan Smith; Rhys Thomas, Taylor Davies, Simon Gardiner, Adam Powell (capt), Rynier Barnado, Trystan Lloyd, Owain Morgan, Josh Macleod
Reps: Rhys Fawcett, Richard Bassett, Tom Kaijaks, Chris Long, Nathan Hart, Rhodri Cole, Ioan Hughes, Kalum Evans
