The heavyweight clash in the opening round of matches in the Cup competition saw the home side run in four tries to pick up a priceless bonus point. Gwent replied with a Sam Alford try and three penalties from Sam Berry.
Cardiff Rugby U18 star Mackenzie Martin drove the home pack in a huge physical battle with the champions and picked up a try for his efforts. The other tries came from Harrison Bellamy, Saul Hurley and Gabe Lacey.
CAVC lost skipper Finn Charles with a rib injury and that meant another Cardiff Rugby age-grade star, Harrison James, had to move into the No 10 position from centre. He converted three tries, landed three penalties and kicked a drop goal for a match tally of 18 points.
“It was an unbelievably physical match and the breakdown work of Gwent made life very difficult for us. We tried to get away from the physical battle and played some good rugby outside of that,” said CAVC director of rugby, Martyn Fowler.
“You have to win three of your four games to progress to the final and that is one down. Now we have a huge contest coming up against Cymoedd before we meet Llandovery College and Gower College.”
It is 1-1 between the two Cardiff Rugby regional colleges and whoever wins the decider could well go through to the final. CAVC will have a two week lay-off through half-term and a bye week to get ready for the showdown.
Cymoedd got off to a winning start in the second phase of the competition with a 23-15 win over Gower College at Sardis Road. Scrum half Rhys Price kicked 13 points to go with tries from centre Kyan Evans and back row man Evan Wood.
Coleg Sir Gar hit top form in their opening game in the Plate, beating Neath Port Talbot College 50-12. Josh Edwards helped himself to four of the visitors’ eight tries, Lucca Setaro got a brace and Josh Davies landed five conversions.
Newport HS had tries from Zak Roberts and then two from skipper Will Gregory to snatch victory at the death over Ysgol Glantaf. Tom Weekley and Louis Rochefort-Shugar crossed for tries for the visitors, but when they lost Fletcher Barry to a yellow card it allowed No 8 Gregory to pounce.
In the Bowl, Llandrillo scored three tries in a 17-12 win over Pembrokeshire Colleges.
