ABERAVON Green Stars continued their winning start to the season as they beat Vardre 31-24 to reach the second round of the Specsavers National Bowl.
Sean Curran was at the double for the Green Stars at Little Warren, with Thomas Davies and Carl Leyshon also crashing over the whitewash against a strong Vardre side who only narrowly missed out on promotion last season.
Curran also kicked three penalties with Liam Partridge converting Davies’ try.
Joining them in the second round are Nantymoel, who came through their first round encounter 39-13 at Cwmgors.
Skipper Ryan Davies led the way with 19 of his side’s points, as he ran in a try as well as booting four conversions and two penalties. Rhys Bevan, Shaun Webber, Simon Collins and Ethan Davies the other try scorers.
Also enjoying a first round victory were Whitehead, who beat Abertillery BG 52-34 in a high-scoring contest.
Adam Gibb’s hat-trick inspired them with Jacob Proctor bagging himself a brace alongside sole efforts from Will Gallivan and Dan Rees. Proctor added the rest from the tee.
Meanwhile three of the Bowl’s former winners are also safely through to the next round. Amman United, who won it with a side including a try scoring Shane Williams against Caerphilly at the Principality Stadium back in 2017, won 29-7 at Trimsaran to reach the second round of this season’s competition.
Abercarn’s bid to return to the national stadium 10 years after their 2010 final triumph over Trebanos began with a 39-12 home defeat of Newport Saracens while 2013 winners Wattstown edged Cardiff Medicals 17-12. However there will no return to the final this season for CR Cymry Caerdydd, who lifted the trophy in 2014, after they were beaten 26-22 at home by Fairwater.
There was a big 55-12 win on the road for Tumble at New Dock Stars while Penygraig, Tonyrefail and Tredegar Ironsides were three other sides who racked up 50 points on their way to comfortable first round wins.
As with the Plate competition, there were also a number of walkovers.
Abertysswg, Baglan, Banwen, Bryncethin, Fluer De Lys, Laugharne, Llanhilleth, Newtown, Rhymney and Wrexham were among the beneficiaries.
ENDS
