Hot on the heels of their home win over Pontypridd, Jason Hyatt’s Wizards conjured up a remarkable late, late win at Llandovery to keep their charge for the play-offs on track. Now the team that topped the Principality Premiership table in the first half of the season are getting back to the top in the battle for the title.
Replacement hooker Ieuan Davies was the toast of Aberavon after he crashed over for an 83rd minute try that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for the Wizards as they hit back to beat Llandovery 30-27.
It looked as though the game had gone the home side’s way after lock Jake Baker muscled his way over for a try that Jack Maynard converted to take Llandovery into a 27-23 lead with two minutes left to play.
But this Aberavon side, who ended the first phase of the season three points clear the top of the table, never knows when it is beaten. Not only did they find a way to win, but they also went away with a try bonus point.
Victory moved them up to fourth place with a game in hand on the three teams ahead of them in Tier 1. Veteran lock Ian Moore gave the visitor’s a flying start when he crossed for the first try after only seven minutes and further tries from Luke Joseph and Stef Andrews took them into a 20-3 lead.
But the Drovers hit back on the stroke of half time with a Mike Evans try and 10 minutes into the second half they had tied things up at 20-20 with an Aaron Warren try and a conversion and penalty from Maynard. Garland kicked the Wizards back in front before Baker and Davies struck at the death.
In Tier 2, Bargoed performed their own version of the ‘Great Escape/ as they overturned a 19 point deficit to triumph 36-29 at The Gnoll. They now meet table-topping Newport at home this weekend.
Having been hit with an opening salvo of 19 points, with hooker Ifan Phillips crossing twice and Gavin Evans getting a third, Bargoed must have feared they were in for another hiding in the wake of their 52-7 defeat at Llanelli six days earlier.
But they refused to buckle and hit back to turn the game on its head and put themselves in with an outside chance of reaching the play-off places with three home games to come. The fightback was led by outside half Calum Jones, who ended up with two tries and 19 points to shade home full back Ed Howley, who scored 14. Wing David Evans kick-started the revival with a try on 28 minutes and lock Josh Jacas also crossed at the end of the first-half.
Two tries in quick succession from Jones and centre Ashley Norton then levelled the scores at 26-26 before Howley and Jones swapped penalties to make it 29-29. Jones then came up with the crucial score as he crossed for his second try five minutes from time and Matthew Lewis added the conversion.
