Deadshot Edwards hits late winner for Birchgrove

LAST season’s National Plate runners-up Bonymaen took another step towards a return to the Principality Stadium as they saw off Tondu 37-15 at Parc Mawr to reach round three.

Rhys Leonard scored twice with Joe Yeates, Dan Clement and Gareth Andrew also going over. Lawrence Thomas added three conversions and a penalty.

Holders Brecon, who are bidding to become the first club to win the Plate in consecutive seasons, were handed a walkover with scheduled opponents Ynysybwl unable to raise a side.

Also through are former National Cup semi-finalists Newbridge, who won 29-3 at Carmarthen Athletic.

Jimmy Gahan, who ran in four tries during the first round dismantling of Blaenavon, was once again on the scoresheet with Matthew McGovern, Sam Watkins and Matthew Davies the other Newbridge scorers.

Robbie Turley kicked three conversions and a penalty.

Newcastle Emlyn, runners-up in 2015, booked their place in the next round with an emphatic 55-0 defeat of Nantgaredig.

Emrys Davies, Llyr Jones and Sion Edwards were all at the double with Mike Jones, Steffan Evans and Llyr Davies also dotting down. Shaun Leonard added five conversions.

Another team hoping to return to the final are Rhydyfelin, beaten finalists of six years ago.

The Village are also through after overcoming Ynysddu 26-12 thanks to two tries from Josh Hawkins and touchdowns from Scott Pritchard and David Gratton – who also added three conversions.

Matthew Edwards drove the final nail into the Dinas

Powys coffin at the Common with a penalty with the last kick of the game to seal a 33-31 win for Birchgrove.

Edwards ended the game with 18 points, including one of his sides’ four tries, but none were as crucial as his final penalty.

It was cruel luck for the home side, who had been behind for most of the match until Callum Bricknell landed his fifth penalty to hoist his side into a 31-30 lead. At that stage victory looked possible.

Bricknell ended with 19 points as he converted two of Dinas’ three tries, a pair of which came from Rhys Evans. Curt Davies, Adam Rowlands and Josh Key scored the other tries for Birchgrove.

Bridgend Athletic were two strong for north Walians Bala as they powered into the next round on the back of tries from Sean Williams, Den Davies and Nathan Hollman in their 26-3 triumph. Luke Bevan added a conversion and three penalties. Mountain Ash turned the tables on Rumney as they bounced back from their 28-20 home defeat in the league a week earlier to come out on top 14-13 at the same venue in the Plate.

Adam Parry scored the vital try shortly after Rumney lost a player to the sin-bin and Morgan James kicked three penalties to complete the revenge mission.

Two-time former winners Penallta put 60 points on Dowlais to also book their place in round three. In the Bowl, Aberavon

Green Stars made sure they will be in the draw for round three thanks to a comprehensive 34-3 victory at Cardiff Quins.

Skipper Alwyn Williams, Brett Thomas, Karl Larkworthy and Sean Curran grabbed the tries, all converted by dead-eye Curran – who also kicked two penalties. Abercarn’s bid to bridge a 10-year gap from their last final appearance remains on track after coming through their second round tie 22-15 at Penygroes.

There will be no return to the national stadium this year though for former Bowl winners Amman United (2017) and Wattstown (2013). Amman were defeated 20-5 at home by Abertysswg while Wattstown are also out after going down 36-13 at Bryncoch.

And in the Shield – a new competition introduced this season for lower tier clubs – Hollybush, Crumlin and Bettws were big first round winners.