Former Ponty back-rower Luke Crocker, wing David Williams and a penalty try clinched victory for the plucky visitors after the home side had raced into a 10-0 lead. The hosts, whose unbeaten run stretching back to January was ended a fortnight ago by Cross Keys, narrowly edged out bottom club Neath last week.
And for the third week in succession, they failed to impress, despite leading through a try from Wales Sevens star Alex Webber and two Ceri Sweeney kicks in the first half-hour. But they were soon pegged back as, firstly, Dai Langdon got the visitors on the scoreboard, then Crocker crashed over to make it 10-8 at the break.
Ponty outside-half Sweeney raced through under the posts, converting his own score, to extend the lead to 18-8, but back came the Steelmen. When a defensive maul collapsed on the Ponty line they picked up an eight-point penalty try and saw Ashley James sent to the sin bin.
Then some fine passing allowed Williams to score on 62 minutes. Langdon converted and, after a tense final 10 minutes, Iain Smerdon kicked a late penalty to seal the points for the Gwent club.
A strong second-half performance ensured a bonus-point, 44-22 home win for Aberavon that ensured they retained second position in the Principality Premiership table.
An early yellow card for Llanelli’s Maselino Paulino allowed the Wizards to open the scoring, with Jonathan Phillips touching down for his third try in three weeks having come on less than a minute earlier after full-back Joe Gage went off with an injury.
There was more bad news for Llanelli when captain Adam Powell was forced off with a twisted knee, but shortly after returning to the field it was the Samoan international Paulino who got the first points for Llanelli, scoring at the posts.
Joe Thomas put Aberavon ahead before the break before Llanelli winger Jordan Williams levelled the scores leaving the half-time score 14-14.The Wizards were first out of the blocks in the second-half, and hooker Gareth Harvey scored following a great run from Jay Baker.
The bonus point was secured shortly afterwards with another try from winger Stef Andrews, and while Llanelli continued to press throughout the second half they couldn’t find a way through the Aberavon defence.Two more Aberavon tries from Sam Williams and James Garland were followed by a late consolation for Jordan Williams, but Aberavon ran out comfortable winners.
Cardiff made it six league wins in a row against Newport as they produced a remarkable second half comeback to win the derby match at BT Sport Arms Park, 36-28.
Newport led 22-8 heading into the break after a brace of tries from outside-half Arwel Robson and a strong rolling maul was finished off by No.8 Sam Cross. Robson’s second try was the pick of the day as he made the interception in front of the Newport try line before running 90 metres to touch down in the corner, leaving Cardiff’s defence in his wake.
The lone first half try for Cardiff came as an immediate response to the visitors opening try as centre William Rees-Hole crossed after a powerful run and lunge for the line. Within a minute of the restart, Rees-Hole had crossed to reduce the deficit to just eight points.
Two minutes later, a try from replacement hooker Marc Breeze had put Cardiff just two points behind. Another home try followed as Luke Ford touched down under the posts to give Cardiff their third try in just 11 minutes.
Newport braved the Cardiff storm for a further 20 minutes before Tom Slater finished a well handled move and Ford converted to take the score to 36-22. A Newport try from Cross with 10 minutes to go ensured a bonus point, but the hosts were able to withstand the pressure to record a hard-fought victory.
After three bruising contests in their last three games, Cross Keys walked away from a comfortable West Wales win relatively unscathed after beating Carmarthen Quins 20-8. A punishing 32-32 draw with high-flying Aberavon last week, was preceded by games against Pontypridd and Ebbw Vale that were decided by two points.
But Keys outside-half Ethan Davies put in another ‘Man of the Match’ display to ensure victory, kicking eight crucial points. The visitors started well and wing Polo Uhi crossed early on and Davies converted.
Quins hit back through Wales Under 20 scrum-half Kieran Hardy, with Craig Evans expertly converting. But Keys were on song and scrum-half James Leadbetter quickly snuck over for a try to retain their advantage.
Davies again added the extras to take Keys into a 16-8 half-time lead. A solid second-half saw Keys unable to added another try, but two more Davies penalties gave the visitors breathing space, while their own try-line was rarely troubled.
Keys are now unbeaten in their last seven matches. Their last defeat came on September against Cardiff – who they take on next week at the BT Sport Arms Park – while the Quins remain second bottom, with just two wins so far this season.
Two tries in two minutes almost brought Bedwas back from the dead, but in the end it wasn’t enough to stop the Bridgend revival gathering even more momentum.
In a typical game of two halves, Bridgend dominated the first through their power scrum and Bedwas owned the second through their control at the breakdown and big ball carrying. Had skipper Richard Powell hit the mark with his second conversion then nobody would have quibbled with a draw.
But Mike Hook’s men did enough to hang on to make it three wins in a row, although just how much improvement they have made will be put to the test next weekend when Pontypridd visit the Brewery Field.
Joe Scrivens started the scoring when he intercepted a pass from former Bridgend favourite Andrew Waite to sprint 70 metres to score a try which he also converted. The home outside half then missed with a penalty, but was able to add the extras to a try on the stroke of half-time by Ashton Evans after he picked up from a scrum.
Bedwas kept the game tighter in the second half and their more direct approach earned a try for full back Kurt Clabby which skipper Richard Powell converted. Robson Blake blasted over for another, but Powell’s wayward conversion attempt proved costly.
Neath started well, lost their way for 40 minutes, yet managed to salvage a losing bonus point at the death with a last gasp try from replacement scrum half Reuben Morgan-Williams on his debut. Victory still went to Llandovery, though, 26-18
That 80th minute try will have at least stopped the Neath coaching staff from reading the riot act to their players, who had built a 10 point lead in the opening quarter at Church Bank to raise hopes of a first win of the season.
As for the home side, victory ended a run of two successive defeats and made it five wins in a row at home.
Three first-half tries allowed the Drovers to temporarily move up into second place in the Principality Premiership table, but it was Neath’s Welsh international wing Dafydd Howells who started the scoreboard moving when he took an inside ball from outside half Iwan Evans to cross for a try within two minutes of the start.
Evans had no trouble in converting and then his sixth minute penalty made it 10-0. The sluggish home side eventually awoke and No 8 Richard Brooks grabbed their first points when he drove over from close range for a try which outside half Jack Maynard improved.
Maynard ended the game with 14 points as he converted two more tries before the beak, the first scored by himself after good approach work from Will Thomas and Mike Evans and the second from centre Rhodri Jones soon after opposite number Dean Howell had been yellow carded.
The Drovers were 24-12 ahead at the break, yet only managed one more penalty from Maynard’s boot in the second half.
