Pontypridd hit the front and fought hard to stay there before finally surrendering 33-18 in a game that featured seven tries.
“It’s the third time we’ve come to Sardis Road and won, and I’m delighted with that. There was only one point in it at the break and our try just before half-time was a big turning point in the game,” said Jason Hyatt, Aberavon’s head coach.
“The yellow cards had a bearing on the game, but they looked dangerous. It was a high standard game and both forwards and backs had a really good go at each other.
“The momentum swung when we scored some tries in the second half. There were a lot of errors in our game, but I was really pleased with our intent. There is a huge amount of confidence in our squad at the moment.”
Joe Scrivens kicked the home side into a third minute lead with a penalty and it was nip and tuck throughout the first half. Wizards skipper Joe Tomalin-Reeves crashed over for the first of his side’s five tries a minute later and Rhys Jones added the extras.
Ponty then conjured up a great team try for Joe Miles, with backs and forwards joining in the fun, while Aberavon prop Rowan Jenkins was in the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on. Scrivens added the extras and then kicked a penalty shortly after Jay Baker had announced his return to action with a try on the wing for the visitors.
The referee then confirmed with the TMO that Ponty hooker Nathan Huish had got over from a rolling maul and that try made it 18-12 with four minutes to go to the break. Aberavon refused to give up and in the fourth minute of added time Ashton Evans drove over for a try that Jones improved to give them a one points interval lead.
Two second half scores, from scrum half Rhodri Cole and lock Sam Pailor, who galloped 50 metres for his try, were enough to earn the Wizards their bonus point and make victory safe.
Scorers: Pontypridd: Tries: J Miles, N Huish; Con: J Scrivens; Pens: J Scrivens 2. Aberavon: Tries: J Tomalin-Reeves, J Baker, A Evans, R Cole, S Pailor; Cons: R Jones 4
Carmarthen 28 – 27 Llanelli
Carmarthen Quins left it late, but Kallum Evans stepped up to score a dramatic try out wide while the clock was in the red to secure a first win of the season.
Llanelli started the game well scoring a try through Chris Long. Josh Phillips was pulling the strings and his kicking was on point in the early exchanges, as he added the conversion before adding a further penalty, putting his side 10 points clear.
It was a tough opening for the hosts, but Evans struck back to half the deficit with the first of his impressive brace of tries. Steff Marshall then added a penalty and the momentum was with the Quins.
Another try, this time from Ryan Bean, meant the home went into the break leading 15-10. Llanelli away came out firing early in the second half and piled on the pressure through their forwards, before Jack Davies scored two quick tries out wide to overturn the interval deficit.
Llanelli really turned it on and got their bonus point soon after through a fourth try from Nathan Hart. Quins were not done yet, though, as they rallied superbly and worked Jac Wilson over after a superb counter attacking move.
Wilson also added a penalty to set up a grand finale. It was a tense finish, but Evans was on hand to snatch that late, late try to secure a much-needed win.
Scorers: Carmarthen Quins: Tries: K Evans 2, R Bean, J Wilson; Con: S Marshall; Pens: S Marshall, J Wilson. Llanelli: Tries: J Davies 2, C Long, N Hart; Cons: J Phillips 2; Pen: J Phillips.
