Steelmen stay one point clear at top
Premiership round-up
IT’S as you were at the top of the Indigo Premiership after the leading sides all bagged bonus-point wins.
Ebbw Vale remain a point clear as they made it five straight victories, winning 35-17 at Neath in the battle of bottom versus top.
The Steelmen were out of the traps early through tries from captain Jon Evans and Ieuan Morris, both converted by Kieran Meek, to lead 14-0, but Neath hit back through Gethin Tremlett.
Steff Williams converted and kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to four points at the break. Rhys Francis extended Ebbw’s lead after the restart, again converted by Meek, before the bonus point was secured when the visitors were awarded a penalty try.
Williams then converted his own try as Neath tried to respond, but Francis added his second and Ebbw’s fifth try late on.
Reigning champions Llandovery took the frustration of their defeat at Ebbw last week out on RGC, recording a thumping 50-19 win at Church Bank – their seventh consecutive win over the Gogs.
Full-back Tomi Lewis inspired the Drovers with a try hat-trick; one in the first half and then a double in the second. Adam Warren, Gabe McDonald, Nathan Hart and Jamie Hughes were also on the scoresheet.
Ollie Wynn and Sam Stoddart crossed for RGC.
Last season’s Championship ‘Invincibles’ Pontypool kept their proud home record intact and also made it five league wins on the spin as they defeated Pontypridd 41-30.
It’s now 59 league games unbeaten on their own patch for Pooler.
A try from captain Scott Matthews, along with a conversion and two penalties from the Premiership’s leading points scorer Matthew Jarvis saw Pooler with their noses in front 13-10 at the break.
McCauley Rowley replied for the visitors with Josh Phillips adding a conversion to his early penalty goal.
Morgan Lloyd extended Pooler’s lead and further tries from Walker Price, Ollie Drake and Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths bagged a fine win. Jarvis kicked the rest.
Joe Miles and Rob Jones were the other Ponty try scorers but they would leave empty handed.
Newport made it backto-back bonus point wins on the road, this time running out 34-26 victors at Carmarthen Quins.
Buoyed by a dominant win at Aberavon in their last outing, Newport drew first blood through Josh Skinner’s try, converted by Carwyn Penny.
The Black and Ambers held a narrow 17-16 lead at half time with Lloyd Lewis also going over. Penny converted and kicked a penalty.
Rhodri Davies scored for Quins in the first half, converted by Jac Wilson, who kicked three penalties.
Scarlets product Teddy Leatherbarrow also scored in the second half for Quins, along with a further five points from the boot of Wilson, but it wouldn’t be enough as Tyler Olding and Kyle Taylor won it for Newport. Penny kicked a penalty and converted Olding’s try with Jac Lloyd improving Taylor’s.
Cardiff were narrow 37-32 bonus-point winners after an entertaining contest at Bridgend.
James Beal and Harrison James scored for Cardiff in the first half, with James converting both, adding to his two early penalties.
That handed them a 2010 half time lead with the Ravens’ Luke Price kicking a penalty and then converting skipper Zac O’Driscoll’s try right on the break.
Dewi Cross and Will Davies-King also scored for Cardiff in the second half but Bridgend more than played their part in a thrilling contest and further tries for them from Rhys Williams, Chris Williams – on his 200th appearance for Bridgend – along with Evan Yardley secured two points for the home side.
Elsewhere Shay Smallman crashed over late on to secure maximum points for Aberavon in a 38-32 win at Swansea and hold off a fightback from the Whites.
Aberavon looked to be cruising when a penalty try nine minutes into the second half handed them a 31-8 advantage and bonus point secured.
Bradley Roderick, Frankie Jones and No.8 Rhys Thomas were their other scorers with James Davies kicking the rest.
Owen Thomas scored in each for Swansea with captain Callum Bowden and a penalty try their other scorers. Rhys Jones kicked two conversions and two penalties They had hit back to lead 32-31 with less than 10 minutes to play before Smallman scored.
