The visitors at least managed to stop the Drovers from picking up their bonus point try until two minutes from time, when Lee Rees got over to add to earlier touchdowns from Berian Watkins, Gavin Thomas and Matt Moore.
The win ended a run of three successive defeats for Euros Evans’ side and put them firmly back in the picture in the top half of the table. Victory temporarily moved them into fourth place ahead of this weekend’s other fixtures.
Table-topping Ebbw Vale take their seven match unbeaten record to Sardis Road for what is set to be a severe test against the fifth placed home side who are only five points behind the leaders. That game is live on S4C at 5.15pm.
Defending champions Merthyr, currently in second place, host Swansea, while third placed Aberavon head to Bargoed, where the home side last week secured a notable 27-10 win over Llanelli. Cross Keys welcome a Bedwas side who have won only once to date this season.
The mid table trio of Newport, Cardiff and Carmarthen Quins all have home games. There are only two points separating RGC 1404 in sixth and the Quins, who host the Gogs today, in ninth.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 8
Friday, 19 October
Llandovery 30 – 3 Neath
Saturday, 20 October
Bargoed v Aberavon
Bargoed: James Hallett; Matthew Billett, Barney Nightingale, Darren Humphries, Ashley Norton; Josh Prosser, James Leadbeater; John Lavender, Rhys Buckley, Alex Gardner-Key, Louis Blacker, Ashley Gibson, Lewis Johnson, Grant Rogers, Adam Powell
Reps: Matthew Bancroft, Jordan Purcell, Jordan Howells, Callum Davies, Lewys Lippiett, Rhys Morgan
Aberavon: Jon Phillips; Shaun Pearce, Will Price, Rheon James, Stef Andrews; James Garland (captain), Rhodri Cole; Rhys Forse, Luke Davies, Chris Davies, Ben Thomas, Ben Davies, Jac Morgan, Andrew Waite, Joe Tomalin-Reeves
Reps: Jacob Flynn, Liam Popham, Frankie Jones, Cameron Lewis, Lee Purnell, Mike Burgess, Rhys Henry, Ben Jones
Cardiff v Llanelli
Cardiff: Ioan Davies; Aled Rees, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Matthew Powell; Steffan Jones, Martin Roberts; Fraser Young, Kirby Myhill, Peter Lloyd, Miles Normandale, James Murphy, Tom Daley, Luke Crocker (captain), Morgan Allen
Reps: Rhys Carre, Joey Tomlinson, Ross Davies, Sam Pailor, Rory Pitman, Nicky Griffiths, Gareth Thompson, Will Rees-Hole
Llanelli: Kalum Evans; Liam Hutchings, Johnny Lewis, Oliver Reyland, Liam Smith; Ashley Sutton, Gareth George; Rhys Thomas, Taylor Davies, Richard Bassett, Elliott Rees, Matthew Davies, Joel James, Ellis Thomas, Lloyd Pike
Reps: Callum Jenkins, Callum Williams, Adam Thomas, Chris Gorvett, Connor Ford, Josh Weeds, Ioan Hughes, Jordan Fox
Carmarthen Quins v RGC 1404
Quins: Aled Thomas; Dylan Morgans, Nick Reynolds, Josh Batcup, Dale Ford; Steffan Marshall, Liam Davies; Gethin Robinson, Torin Myhill, Connor Allen, Shaun Jones, Haydn Pugh (captain), Ed Siggery, Ellis Lloyd, Lewys Millin
Reps: Steff Phillips, Thomas Ball, Carwyn Francis, Lee Taylor, Gethin Davies, Ifan Beynon Thomas, Scott Lloyd, Matthew John
RGC 1404: Dion Jones; Sam Jones, Thomas Hughes, Rhys Williams, Afon Bagshaw; Billy McBryde, Efan Jones; Joe Simpson, Evan Yardley (captain), Sam Wainwright, Beau Williams, Robin Williams, Andrew Williams, Josh Leach, Tim Grey
Reps: George Roberts, Curtis Reynolds, Jordan Scott, Bryn Jones, Daniel Owen, Cameron Davies, Dannny Cross, Iolo Evans
Cross Keys v Bedwas
Cross Keys: Will Kelly; Rory Budina, Leon Andrews, Srdan Majkic, Joe Goodchild; Jason Tovey, Dan Babos; Ryan Bevington, Connah Vaughan, Richard Cornock, Damian Welch (captain), Tom Lampard, Izaak Duffy, Joe Thomas, Garin Price
Reps: Zac Hewlett, Taylor Hansen, Scott Evans, Todd James, Joe Carlin, Declan Williams, Owain Leonard, Ian Newbury
Bedwas: Joe Scrivens; Kane Teear-Bourge, Tom Hoppe, Lewis Bowden, George Gasson; Dion McIntosh, Tom Rowlands; Brynley Toms, Alun Rees (captain), Rhys Hutcherson, Gareth Allen, Craig Hudd, James Richards, Nathan Hudd, James Thomas.
Reps: Sam Cochrane, Dale Rogers, Chris Budgen, Liam Beer, Sion Parry, Rory Harries, Mike Callow, Jacob Chilcott
Merthyr v Swansea
Merthyr: Matthew Jarvis; Kyle Evans, Jay Baker, Arron Pinches, Lewis Williams; Josh Martin, Adam Hoskins; Nathan Trevett, Rhys Williams, Craig Locke (captain), Jake Thomas, Jack Perkins, Phil Rees
Reps: Matt Dwyer, James Howe, Louis Jones, Kris Smith, Nicholas White, Justin James, J Williams, Gavin Dacey
Swansea: R. Rhys Williams; Ryan Griffiths, Callum Carson, J. Rhys Williams, Nathan Trowbridge; Foard Cooksley, Josh Guy; Jack Powell, Paul John, Greg Cuniffe, Tudor Hughes, Jay Williams, Charlie Davies, Callum Bowden, Jon Fox
Reps: Sion Jones, Rhys Davies, Mitch Walsh, Jon Vaughan, Ben Davies, Tom Ham, Jedd Evans, Ben Cambriani
Newport v Bridgend
Newport: David Richards; Jon Morris, Tom Pascoe, Chay Smith, Elliot Frewen; Matt O’Brien, Tom Lucas; Lewis Smout, Will Evans, Garin Harris, Rynard Landman, Joe Bartlett, Josh Skinner, Kyle Taylor, Josh Reid
Reps: Henry Palmer, Dan Preece, Tom Piper, Dan Partridge, Mathew Reed, Rhys Jenkins, Ryan James, Geraint O’Driscoll
Bridgend: Jamie Murphy; Geraint Roberts, Stuart Floyd Ellis, Nathan Edwards (captain), Mike Powell; Ryan Evans, Connor Tantum; Rhodri Apsee, Iestyn Merriman, Garyn Daniel, James Little, Chris John, Tom Morgan, Adam O’Driscoll, Dafi Davies
Reps: Gareth Harvey, Ollie Evans, Cai Lewis, Jack Pope, Owain Lloyd, Chris Williams, Will Holley, Morgan Jones
Pontypridd v Ebbw Vale
Pontypridd: Dale Stuckey; Alex Webber, Alex Knott, Dafydd Lockyer, Cameron Lewis; Ben Jones, Jamie Hill; Ian George, Joe Page, Gareth Smith, Shay Smallman, Chris Dicomidis, Rhodri Jones, Rhys Shellard, Steffan Jenkins
Reps: Geraint Clarke, Huw Owen, Luke Leddington, Sean Moore, Morgan Sieniawski, Huw Rees, Tom Riley, Lewis Williams
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Steff Thomas, Carl Meyer, Dom Franchi, Toby Fricker; Rhys Jones, Dai Jones; Joel Harries, Rhys Francis, Rob Sevenoaks, Kristian Parker, Lance Randall, Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes (captain), Lewis Young
Reps: Joe Franchi, Ross Jones, Curtis Hicks, Cameron Regan, Owen Young, Sam Ireland, Jacob Botica, Paul King
