The former Cardiff Blues outside half, who also made 128 appearances for the Cardiff club side, chip kicked across field inch perfectly to allow replacement wing Kyle Evans to run in the match winning score in a 24-18 victory at the Arms Park.
The fact the Ironmen were able to introduce players of the calibre of Davies and Evans, last season’s leading try scorer in the Premiership, showed their strength in depth and also enabled them to overturn the defeat they suffered at the Arms Park almost a year to the day.
Dale McIntosh’s side got off to a calamitous start to their title defence last season losing 24-17 in the Welsh capital before falling to Bedwas at home a week later. A third straight defeat followed at Sardis Road on 16 September as Pontypridd triumphed 42-29, but after that they lost only twice more in 32 league and cup outings as they completed the double.
Their great form on the road was crucial to their double success in the Premiership and WRU National Cup last season, and having clawed their way back from a 15 point deficit at the Arms Park in Round 1 this season it looks as though they are once again going to be very tough to beat away from home once again.
Cardiff’s new outside half Steff Jones kicked six penalties to bag all his side’s points, while a great touchline rub from former Aberavon and Ospreys wing Jay Baker crowned his debut for the Ironmen to notch the first of their three tries. The forwards bagged the next one with a penalty try from a powerful scrum before Davies’ coup de gras with his delightful kick-pass at the death.
The champions were one of five teams that won away from home on the opening day of the season with Llandovery’s 62-22 win at Bargoed enough to take them to the top of the table. The Drovers, who finished as runners-up last season, had eight different try scorers in a game in which they scored 38 points in the second half.
Outside half Jack Maynard converted six of the tries and added a penalty to finish with 15 points. Left wing Ashley Norton crossed twice for the home side.
Newport, who were beaten by Merthyr in the Cup final in May, turned on the style to win 29-12 at Carmarthen Quins. Lewys Millin and Jac Wilson crossed for tries for the Quins, one of which Aled Thomas converted, while Matt O’Brien conjured up 19 points for the visitors.
The outside half scored two of his side’s four tries, converted three of them and added a last minute penalty to round things off. Flanker Kyle Tayler and centre Tom Pascoe scored the other tries.
Ebbw Vale kicked off with a five-pointer at Parc y Scarlets as they beat the home side 43-10. Skipper Ronny Kynes led the way with two trademark tries from line-out drives, while wing Toby Fricker also ran in a brace.
Wing Stefan Thomas and centre Dom Franchi also scored tries for the Steelmen, while Rhys Jones converted five of the half-dozen and added a penalty. Wing Kalum Evans scored the opening try of the season for the home side and Ashley Sutton kicked a penalty and conversion.
Pontypridd were forced into a second half fightback at Bedwas, where they found themselves trailing 16-3 at the break after Jordan Rees thundered over for a try which new outside half Joe Scrivens converted for the home side. Scrivens also kicked three penalties.
But back came Ponty in the second half and four tries flowed in a 15 minute purple patch as they glided to a 33-23 victory. Two of those tries went to Alex Knott, who moved from centre to wing after the interval, with Alex Webber and Huw Rees grabbing the others.
RGC 1404 took their opening game of the season to Ruthin’s Cae Ddol ground and, despite falling behind to visiting Neath, emerged handy winners 37-19. Aaron Bramwell ran in the first try of the game, which Ed Howley improved, and Alec Jenkins added a second on the stroke of half-time.
That made it 18-12 to the home side, who scored five tries – Evans Yardley, Mei Parry, Efan Jones, Iolo Evans and Danny Cross – in the game, three of which Billy McBryde converted to go with his two penalties. Neath’s only second half points came from a penalty try.
Former professionals Damien Welch and Jason Tovey got their new careers at Cross Keys off to a flying start with a 32-25 home win over Bridgend. There was also a try for Dragons flanker Nic Cudd.
Tovey weighed in with 12 points with his boot to go with the four tries, while Bridgend hit back with four tries of their own from Nathan Edwards, two in four minutes from Aaron Grabham and an 80th minute effort from Chris John.
Aberavon scored three tries – Matthew Jenkins, David Pritchard, Will Price – in their 24-10 home win over Swansea. James Garland converted them all and kicked a penalty, while Nathan Trowbridge skipped away for Swansea’s only try.
