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Premiership Cup West round-up: Aberavon make fast start

Premiership Cup West round-up: Aberavon make fast start

Aberavon head coach Jason Hyatt

Aberavon head coach Jason Hyatt is confident he has a strong squad at his disposal this season and that was in evidence as his team hammered Llanelli.

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The Wizards made a strong start to the West division of the WRU Premiership Cup by dismantling the men from Parc y Scarlets 43-17.

Hyatt saw his team locked at 17-17 at half time at the Talbot Athletic Ground, but they ran riot after the break.

Aberavon tries came from Andrew Waite, Shay Smallman, a penalty score, Chay Smith, Iwan Temblett and Lee Purnell.

“I’m confident in the depth we’ve got in our squad this season while we’ve recruited well,” said Hyatt.

“You never know what you are going to get from week-to-week in this league.

“One week a side could be fully loaded with regional players and the next they’ll be without them.

“Nicky Thomas and Rhys Fawcett are two very good signings for us with professional experience which is great because a strong set-piece is vital for this league.”

Carmarthen Quins produced a stunning second-half comeback to down Bridgend Ravens 38-15.

Bridgend led 10-7 at half time before the Quins came roaring back to seal a bonus-point success.

Rhodri Davies put the Quins ahead just five minutes in and Josh Batcup converted.

Tommy Morgan got Bridgend back into it with a neat try.

Ravens fly-half Jamie Murphy also missed a penalty and conversion but made up for it with a try just before the break to give his team a three-point lead.

That was pretty much as good as it got for the Ravens who only scored five points after the break.

Davies and Batcup repeated their double act at the start of the second period and replacement Torin Myhill then got in on the game.

On the hour mark, Kemsley Mathias grabbed Carmarthen’s crucial fourth try and Batcup continued his good afternoon with the boot.

Nic Reynolds and Josh Davies rubbed salt in Bridgend’s wounds and the Ravens were never going to come back from there.

Edd Howley’s 79th minute effort was a mere consolation.

Bridgend player and backs coach Matthew Jones said: “It’s great to be back at Bridgend my home club.

“I feel as if I’ve learned a lot coaching at Pontypool and Neath and hopefully I can show that at Bridgend.

“I’m hoping we can play an expansive game and we can make some good decisions under pressure. The important thing is consistency and that we improve from week to week.”

Llandovery made it 20 successive victories over Swansea as competitive rugby returned to Church Bank for the first time in 18 months.

The opening points came when Will Thomas burst through the middle, forcing the Swansea defence offside in midfield. Angus O’Brien, on permit from the Scarlets, kicked his side into the lead.

Kristian Jones took a crash ball from a scrum as the Drovers mounted their first notable attack and a stretched Swansea defence was unable to prevent Stuart Worrall from spotting a gap to crash over for a well-worked try.

Ashley Evans snatched a high ball out of his opponent’s grasp with the visitors forced to give away another penalty. O’Brien again kicked the three points.

In slippery conditions following a deluge of rain, Liam Seaward spilled a ball near his own line, gifting the Drovers a scrum five.

Following a second infringement at the scrum, referee Elgan Williams had no option but to award the home side a penalty try.

A good chase by Josh Carrington prevented Evans from releasing the ball and his forwards were penalised.

Liam Popham chipped to the corner and Matt Dodd took the line-out before Owen Thomas crashed over for a try.

Harri Houston failed to deal with a high ball and from the resulting melee, the All Whites were guilty of accidental offside. O’Brien successfully kicked his side 16 points clear at half time.

In a dull and pointless second half, the closest any side came to scoring was a chip through by O’Brien, but it was comfortably dealt with by Seaward.

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