Ystrad at the double as they see off Wanderers in the cup
YSTRAD Rhondda completed a notable double over Glamorgan Wanderers in Group 2 of the WRU Championship Cup as they followed up their 28-20 away win with a comprehensive 45-17 triumph at home.
That made it three successive bonus-point wins to put them four points clear of Cardiff Met at the top of the table and on course for a knockout place later in the season. They host Beddau this weekend and then go to Cardiff Met the week after t determine who goes through.
They scored seven tries despite playing for an hour with only 14 men after hooker Liam Wiggins was sentoff for making contact with the head of a Wanderers player with his forearm as he drove into contact with the ball.
The Wanderers were still hanging on at half-time, when they only trailed 17-10 and managed to score three tries themselves. Full back Liam Greening scored twice for the home side and further tries came from Ethan Frackell, Corbin Evans, Jarrad Llewellyn, David Webb and Sion Summers with Rhys Truelove converting five of them.
There were only two games in the WRU Championship Cup and Narberth’s 25-16 home win over Trebanos means they only need to get a point in the re-match this weekend to ensure winning Group 4. The Otters made it three out of three as they converted a two point interval lead into a comfortable enough triumph in the end.
Neath’s 150th anniversary celebrations got off to a familiar start as they welcomed their oldest and dearest of rivals, Swansea to The Gnoll.
Claiming to be the oldest club in Wales, Neath played Swansea in their first official fixture in the 1871/72 season in a game in which the outcome was “disputed”.
There was no dispute 150 years as the Whites came, saw and conquered in their first game for 18 months. Jay Williams’ side raced into a 17-0 lead early in the second half, although in the end were happy to hang on for a 17-14 victory as Neath hit back with two late tries.
Hooker Owen Thomas opened the scoring for the visitors and outside half James Davies added the extras and then converted a second try to make it 14-0 at the break. Davies then kicked a penalty before Neath hit back.
Back row man David Griggs and centre Ryan Evans both crossed for tries and Steff Williams converted both to cut the gap in the end to a mere three points. After suffering a double defeat to Maesteg Quins in the WRU Championship Cup a week earlier, it was a much better display from Pat Horgan’s men.
Aberavon completed their pre-season build-up with a 40-29 victory at Llandovery. They led the Drovers 24-19 at the break and came good in the second half to erase the memories of their home defeat to Newport the previous weekend.
Centre Chay Smith, full back Chris Banfield, No 8 Andrew Waite, wing Matthew Jenkins and flankers Lee Purnell and Lloyd Evans scored their tries and Aled Thomas converted five of them.
Further good news for Jason Hyatt’s side came in the announcement that former Ospreys and Wales U20 centre Joe Thomas has returned from playing in the United States to sign for the Wizards. He made his debut at Llandovery.
Newport backed-up their win at Aberavon with another at Bridgend as they completed their build-up to the new season. Luke Crane, Cameron Lewis, Eliott Frewen crossed in the first half, with Will Reed converting all three, before a late penalty try completed the victory.
The Dragons have announced which players from their academy will be going out to play in the Indigo Group Premiership this season and Ebbw Vale will have the services of props Harry Fry and Adam Williams, hooker Connor Chapman, Wales U20 lock Joe Peard, back row man Ben Moa, scrum half Che Hope, centre Lewis Bates and back three players Euan Rosser, Carrick McDonagh and Joe Westwood.