But as pleasing as the win and the move to the top of the table were, the biggest bonus for the former Scarlets and Wales wing was the fact his side played so much better than they had in their first game of the season when they were beaten at Church Bank.
“We were happy to get the win and we played a lot better than we did at Llandovery. We forced a few errors out of them and were able to capitalise on them,” said Jones.
“We have had a lot of injuries and that has forced us to play a lot of our younger players sooner than we had anticipated. Dan Owen is only 18, yet he has played 90% of our games. It is the same with Robin Williams, George Roberts and Ianto Parry.
“But we wanted to build some strength in depth and the injuries have helped us to do that. There are still six games to go in the first phase of the season and the pleasing thing is that we have been able to build some momentum.
“More than anything else that is what we wanted ahead of our defence of the WRU National Cup title and the second stage of the Premiership season.”
The boot of outside half Jacob Botica, last season’s Premiership Player of the Year, was one again crucial as he kicked four penalties and converted one of the two tries scored for the home side by Harri Evans and Tom Hughes. The only response from the Drovers was a 74th minute try by Matt Moore that was converted by Kris Jones.
Carmarthen Quins ran in five tries in their 37-16 home win over Llanelli that not only avenged their 24-8 defeat on the opening day of the season, but also moved them ahead of their rivals into third place.
Hooker Torin Myhill helped himself to two of the tries and Scarlets outside half Dan Jones kicked 12 points. There were five home tries in all to secure the bonus point with Tom Prydie, Josh Helps and Morgan Griffiths also getting in on the act.
Swansea made it six successive defeats for Neath as they moved off the bottom of the table and condemned their visitors to the basement spot with a 24-17 home win. Wales Under 20 outside half Phil Jones paved the way for the first try with a neat kick through that Andrew Claypole latched on to.
Flanker Jay Williams, Jedd Evans and Adam Thresher added the other tries to claim the bonus-point. Replacement full back Alec Jenkins ran in two tries for the visitors.
Bridgend picked up a 37-21 home win over Aberavon in a tempestuous game at the Brewery Filed. Zac O’Driscoll picked up a red card in a punch up that also saw the Wizards’ duo of Joe Tomalin-Reeves and Ieuan Davies sent to the sin-bin. In total, there were five yellows and one red in the game and the Ravens were down to 12 men at one stage.
Ospreys wing Jay Baker gave Aberavon the lead with a try after only two minutes that James Garland converted, but the Ravens were ahead 16-7 by the break. Wing Aaron Graham struck with a kick-and-chase try and outside half Ryan Evans added the conversion and three penalties.
A penalty try 10 minutes into the second half enabled the home side to increase their lead, but Garland crossed for a try that he also improved to keep the Wizards in the contest. Bridgend’s third try, from lock Kieran Martin, helped to make it 30-14.
Baker’s second try set up a chase for the bonus-point try for both times in what turned out to be 15 minutes of injury time. In the end it was replacement hooker Owen Thomas who came up trumps for the home side.
