Super Rygbi round-up
LLANDOVERY had their colours lowered for the first time since March as RGC ended their seven-match winning streak with a stunning 28-23 home win in Super Rygbi Cymru.
While the Drovers were able to wrestle a 21-18 win at Pontypool Park on the opening night of the season, this time they were unable to surpress a home side superbly marshalled by Billy McBryde.
The former Doncaster Knights fly-half helped himself to 15 points with a second-half try, two early penalties and two conversions as the Gogs came out on top in a thriller.
Having swapped early penalties with Jack Maynard he added a second shortly after Adam Warren had notched the first of the game’s five tries. Maynard added the extras to that score, but RGC hit the front just before the break when Dan Owen scored.
McBryde’s conversion made it 13-10 and Maynard levelled at the start of the second half. Back came RGC with tries from their new half-back duo, Connor Dever and McBryde and the latter improved the try by his scrum half.
That made it 25-16, Maynard adding another penalty in between, and after Sam Earl-Jones had struck a mighty penalty for the home side a Rhodri Jones try and Maynard conversion at least ensured the Drovers went home with a losing bonus-point.
Newport made it two from two as they finally overhauled Swansea, winning 35-27.
Having taken an early lead through a try from Josh Reid they found themselves trailing 20-7 at the break.
Swansea hit back with outside-half Josh Phillips kicking two penalties, scoring a try and adding two conversions. Phillips improved his own score and added the extras to a try by wing Callum Dodd.
Lock Joe Peard grabbed his first try for the club in the 45th minute and Penny’s second made it 20-14. Swansea replied with a try from hooker Owen Thomas, which Phillips converted to give the All Whites a 13 point lead.
Then Swansea lost lock Sam Pailor to a yellow card and Newport pounced. Tries from Penny and Jac Lloyd, both improved by Penny, brought up the bonus point and edged them into a one point lead before Wade Langley scored a solo effort in added time.
Cardiff made it two wins from two as they avenged their defeat at home by Ebbw Vale last season with a 29-12 victory. Dewi Cross went over for two more tries, while hooker Efan Daniel and full-back Joe Goodchild, celebrating his 50th appearance for the club, got the others.
Former Ospreys outside-half Josh Thomas helped himself to nine points to ensure the Blue & Blacks picked up a try bonus and an extra point for winning by more than 15 or more points. It was 17-0 to Cardiff at the break before Ieuan Morris crossed for an Ebbw try that Evan Lloyd converted. Lewis Young grabbed a second try for the visitors.
There were eight tries and four yellow cards in a chaotic match at the Brewery Field where Pontypool hit back from their opening night defeat to beat Bridgend 29-26. It took a Pat Lewis try in the 76th minute to clinch it as Pooler hit the front for the second time in the match right at the death. The only consolation for the Ravens was they picked up two bonus points for their efforts. Early tries from Jordon Collier and Edd Howley earned the Ravens a 12 point lead.
By half-time Pooler had hit back to lead through driving lineout tries from Sam Scarfe and Mike Herbert, and a third from wing Ioan Duggan. The lead changed hands again in the 53rd minute when Ryan Wilkins went over and Luke Price landed his second conversion.
Scott Matthews scored Pooler’s bonus point try to make it 22-19 before Alfie Llewellyn got Bridgend’s fourth. Price added the extras and with seven minutes to go Bridgend led 26-22 – then came Lewis’ matchwinner, which Kieran Meek converted,Ospreys speedster Cori Lewis-Jenkins set Aberavon on their way to a first win of the season with two of their three tries in a 24-18 win over Carmarthen Quins.
His tries changed the fortunes of the first half when Aberavon were playing into the wind, but for all their territory in the second half they were unable to extend their lead and had to survive in the last few minutes.
