The previous weekend a last gasp try had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Pontypridd against their closest rivals at Sardis Road. Then, during the week, Dale McIntosh announced he would be stepping down along with fellow coaches Gavin Stacey and Rob Sidoli at the end of the season.
“We will continue to work tirelessly until the end of the season to reinforce the pride in the jersey and ensure we go out with the integrity we came with,” McIntosh told supporters.
The players certainly reacted positively to the news, running in seven tries to secure maximum bonus points. One of those tries came from centre Arron Pinches on his 101st appearance, while outside half Gareth Davies reached his century for the club.
Alex Webber opened the scoring for the hosts as he powered over from short range before lock Callum Bradbury scored in the right corner. Llanelli hit back with a tries of their own courtesy of Nathan Hart and Ellis Thomas before Paddy McBride bagged a third for the home side to hoist them into a 20-10 interval lead.
Merthyr were entirely dominant after the break as their forwards forced Llanelli into conceding several penalties. Pinches ran in unopposed from 35 metres out and the home tries kept flowing from Ashley Norton and Rhys Williams.
Llanelli refused to throw in the towel and tries from Harrison Button and Amir Jawa Walij earned them a try-bonus point at the death. Ben Jones score the final try for the ironmen and also kicked 11 points.
Harri Deaves has come up against Sale Sharks in the Heineken Champions Cup and Leinster in the URC this season, but he was more than happy to help Bridgend register their first Premiership of the season.
The rising Ospreys back row star carried off the man of the match award for his debut contribution as the Ravens finally broke their duck with a 20-8 home win over RGC.
“It was awesome to make my Brewery Field debut with the mighty Bridgend. What a win it was and we had class support,” said Deaves.
The home side came racing out the blocks to head into a 15-3 interval lead. The Ravens were as pumped up and assured as they have been all season and despite falling behind to a second minute penalty to Danny Cross they dominated the rest of the opening 40 minutes.
Their response to going behind was emphatic as they drove hooker Rhydian Jenkins over from an unstoppable maul. That came in the eighth minute and things simply got worse for the visitors three minutes later when they lost Sam Rogers to the sin-bin and Paul Short furthered punished them with a penalty.
Bridgend immediately took advantage of their extra-man and a delightful break by Edd Howley paved the way for Cameron Ellis to race over for another score. Short’s conversion opened up a 12 point lead.
No sooner had Rogers returned for RGC than wing Zac Clow saw yellow for a deliberate knock-on midway through the opening half. Four minutes later the ravens lost Dylan Davies for the same offence.
The home side took their 12 point lead into the second half and extended it within five minutes of the re-start when the centres combined to create a chance for Joe Gatt to run in the third try. RGC hit back with a try by Dion Jones out wide, but their discipline let them down badly.
Three more players saw yellow before the end as the Ravens ended with 13 men. Howley and Afon Bagshaw went off together after a difference of opinions four minutes from time and then Bridgend back row man Zach O’Driscoll followed them at the death.
A power packed display from the Ebbw Vale pack earned their side a victory that moved them out of the danger zone at the bottom of the table.
It was their second victory of the season and was timely given it came on the same day that Bridgend notched their first of the campaign. The Steelmen moved up two places, while Swansea dropped down.
“I’m pleased with the result and overall it was a good performance. We controlled the game and looked a lot more assured,” said Ebbw Vale head coach Jason Strange
“We all want to be winning comfortably, but it’s small steps for now. This is all part of a longer journey.
“Swansea are a young team and they stuck in there and made it difficult for us. Winning will give us confidence.”
Swansea managed to slow down an Ebbw Vale drive from a lineout, but conceded a penalty at the ruck. Another lineout followed and the immense pressure paid-off for the home team when captain Dom Franchi squeezed over from close range.
The All Whites hit back when Ospreys outside half Josh Thomas showed off his kicking skills. A long, raking touch finder form a penalty gave his side a platform and then he chipped over the top of the home defence to conjure up a try for Gareth Rees.
The home side earned another scrum penalty and then saw Tom Sloane sent to the bin for his part in the Swansea collapse. Another set piece followed from which the home side chose to use their backs.
It was a good choice against 14 men and former Wales wing Dafydd Howells crashed over for the try that sealed a hard fought victory.
It was a long day at the office for Carmarthen Quins as they fell to their third league defeat of the season and dropped to fifth in the table after a 23-5 defeat at Aberavon.
Frankie Jones picked off an interception try in the seventh minute to set-up an easy march to victory for the Wizards. The windy conditions made life difficult for both sides and the task got even harder after Jones sped away for the opening try, which Aled Thomas converted.
Thomas added penalties after 13 and 20 minutes to stretch the lead to 13 points and the only surprise was that the home side hadn’t built an even bigger score.
Quins half-backs Jac Wilson and Rhodri Davies were kept under incessant pressure by the Wizards back row and 10 minutes into the second half a great forward surge from the Aberavon forwards ended with hooker Ieuan Davies evading a tackle and scoring in the corner.
Next over the Quins’ line was Joe Tomalin-Reeves, who had been forced to go off for running repairs in the first-half with a cut head. He crossed in the corner to make it 23-0.
There was a consolation try for the visitors in the last play of the game when replacement wing Morgan Griffiths crossed.
