Phil Davies’ side remained true to their roots and approached the game with the same ambition as the Scarlets and it didn’t take long for them to get on the scoreboard when centre Oliver Reyland finished off a stunning move for the game’s first try.
Highly rated Wales U20 speedster Ryan Conbeer crossed for the home side’s second try, and his fifth of the season, within the opening quarter, showing his gas to beat a number of defender’s on the outside. With Llanelli comfortably on top No 8 Jack Condy powered his way over following a dominant set of carries by the home forwards to give his side a healthy 17-3 lead.
At this stage there seemed no way back for Aberavon, but centre Will Price got one back for the visitors to cut the deficit before scrum half Jacob Flynn caught the home defence napping to level the scores at 17-17.
Billy McBride then kicked two penalties to give the home side a 23-17 half time lead. Aberavon tight head prop Rhys Henry crashed over from short range to narrow the deficit to just the one point before the former Wales U20 captain Steffan Hughes sealed the bonus point win late on.
Llandovery scored four tries as they thrashed Swansea 32-9 to consolidate their position at the top of the table. The Drovers’ bonus-point win came courtesy of tries from locks Joseff Powell and Bryn Griffiths, scrum half Lee Rhys and Jamie Hughes.
The first half was an edgy affair with both Llandovery outside half Rhys Jones and his opposite number Phil Jones exchanging two penalties each. But after a tense and often scrappy first-half the home side took the lead on the stroke of half-time when lock Powell crossed from short range to ensure the Drovers changed ends with a 13-6 lead.
Llandovery’s forwards began to gain the upper hand in the second half with replacement lock Griffiths getting on the score sheet after a well worked try to extend the home side’s lead. With the game edging into its closing stages, Rees dummied and went from the base of the ruck to score the Drovers’ third before Hughes crashed over from short range for the all important bonus point try.
Bridgend had to play the whole of the second half against Neath with 14 men after prop Rhodri Apsee saw red, but were still able to shock Neath with a 28-20 triumph at the Brewery Field.
Prop Rhodri Apsee saw red late in the first-half as the Ravens were forced to dig in to overcome Neath in a thrilling encounter which saw Aaron Grabham score a brace of tries against his former employers.
Neath came out of the blocks firing and went ahead in under 50 seconds when Wales U20 centre Keiran Williams scored the opening try. The hosts went close to a swift reply but Grabham spilt the ball on the try-line as Ed Howley’s penalty extended Neath’s lead.
Kieran Martin put Bridgend on the board with a try with Howley squandering a penalty chance. Grabham then made amends for his earlier error to put the hosts ahead with Cai Evans converting. Mike Evans sneaked Neath ahead as the hosts lost skipper Zac O’Driscoll to the sin-bin and Aspee through his moment of madness.
Howley missed another penalty attempt after the break as the Ravens rallied and mounted their comeback. Wales U18 outside half Evans kicked three successive penalties to hoist the hosts ahead by eight points before
Grabham confirmed the victory with his second try in the 78th minute as he latched onto an inch-perfect cross kick before finishing in style.
The Welsh All Blacks did find a consolation try through Scott Gibson, but the day belonged to the brave battlers from Bridgend.
Three tries in the space of a four minute purple patch around the half-time interval were enough to carry RGC 1404 to a third successive victory in the Principality Premiership West Division as they beat Carmarthen Quins 26-13.
Dion Jones, who took over the goalkicking duties after Jacob Botica pulled out just before kick-off, gave the home side a first minute lead, but Dan Jones levelled with a kick of his own and then added the extras to a kick and chase try by Dale Ford that gave the Quins a 10-3 lead.
Dan Jones then increased the lead with a second penalty before a 30 metre driving maul by the RGC pack set up a penalty which allowed Jones to make it 13-6. That looked like being it at half-time, but wing Rhys Williams and then centre Tiaan Loots crossed for tries that made it 16-13 to the Gogs at the break.
Things got even better two minutes into the second half when wing Harri Jones ran in for a third try and Jones added the extras. The only other points of the game came with a 52nd minute penalty from Dion Jones to make victory safe.
RGC couldn’t get the bonus point they needed to close the gap on Llandovery at the top of the table and will go into next week’s home clash with Bridgend hoping to close the six point gap.
