WELSH PREMIERSHIP

RGC kicked off phase two of the Principality Premiership campaign with a dramatic single point win over Merthyr.

The home side began the game strongly but despite dominating possession for long periods, they were unable to find a way past the resolute rearguard of the Ironmen.

A bad-tempered clash brought its first yellow card on seven minutes when Arron Pinches was sent to the

L sin bin, but the Gogs could not make their numerical advantage count deEWIS I Williams struck a hatspite some intense pressure on the trick as Pontypridd secured a visiting line. bonus-point 35-14 victory

They finally broke the deadlock over Carmarthen Quins to get on 19 minutes courtesy of a penalty their Tier One campaign off to the from Jacob Botica, but the away side perfect start at Sardis Road. levelled proceedings soon after fullWing Lewis I Williams scored one back Matthew Jarvis fired through. in the first half as Ponty held a narrow

Pinches returned to the contest lead but crashed over twice in the and wasted no time in making an imsecond half to seal a much-deserved pact, scoring the first try of the conwin for the former champions. test on 34 minutes. Jarvis added the The hosts made the perfect start extras. with Huw Dowden crossing the

It was then the turn of the hosts to whitewash in the third minute and receive a yellow card as forward Joe Ceri Sweeney adding the extras. Simpson was sent to the sidelines, But they couldn’t build on their and things went from bad-to-worse strong start as the game was halted for Mark Jones’ side on 39 minutes with Steffan Marshall needing when Tom Daley crossed the whitelengthy treatment after picking up an wash following a period of sustained injury. The fly half was eventually repressure. placed by Josh Batcup.

After the break saw further drama And the hosts took advantage of at both ends of the field, and the visithe Quins change to double their tors extended their lead after a huge lead minutes after the substitution scuffle between the two sides resultafter Dale Stuckey picked up possesed in Nathan Trevett forcing himself sion on the halfway line and evaded a over the line on 50 minutes. Jarvis number of challenges before setting added the conversion. up Lewis I Williams for his first.

This provoked a strong response The Quins knew they needed to get from the Gogs, who got themselves a foothold in the game and they manback into the clash when man-ofaged to respond instantly with Iolo the-match Rhys Williams scored a Evans crashing over. Replacement pair of tries on 56 and 60 minutes Batcup was accurate with the converrespectively, with Botica successful sion but curled a penalty off target with one conversion attempt. five minutes later as Ponty held a

Things got even better for RGC seven-point lead at the break. soon after when the impressive Tiaan The opening exchanges of the first Loots touched down on 67 minutes, half were very open with both sides and a nervy end to proceedings was going close but the game swung in ensured when Merthyr star Martyn the hosts’ favour when Lewis I WilThomas was sent to the stands after liams touched down twice in as many receiving a yellow. minutes.

New Zealand fly-half Botica made The first was down to a fantastic amends from an earlier missed oprun by Gary Williams, who set up portunity with the last phase of the Lewis I Williams, before the wing tie after intense pressure from the showed his pace to outsprint the hosts, and his stoppage time kick Quins backline for the bonus-point sailed over to give RGC a dramatic winning try. victory in-front of a bumper crowd at The visitors continued to try and Parc Eirias. salvage something from the game RGC: Tries: R Williams (2), T Loots; and Gavin Thomas managed the Cons: J Botica (2); Pens: Botica (2). force the ball over the try line to set MERTHYR: Tries: A Pinches, T up a tense finale. Daley, N Trevett; Cons: M Jarvis (3); Quins produced a series of late atPen: Jarvis tacks but Ponty’s backline remained SWANSEA’S poor run of form continued at home to Bargoed as they were beaten in the opening game of the second phase game of the Premiership season.

The Whites opened the scoring on six minutes after captain David Watts supplied Andrew Claypole to cross between the posts.

But Bargoed soon ramped up the pressure and reduced the deficit jthrough James Hallett’s penalty. Phillip Price’s try following a setpiece put Bargoed in front 15 minutes in, but Hallett was unable to convert.

The visitors finally added to their lead shortly before the break, David Evans diving over the line after being released down the left flank, before Swansea’s Wilson again reduced the arrears with a penalty.

There was still time for a last opportunity and it fell the way of Bargoed, as Duane Dwyer duly took advantage of time and space down the right to put The Bulls 18-10 in front.

Another Jac Wilson penalty was the only score in a low key second half as Swansea were unable to stage a comeback, although there was late drama after Bargoed’s Louis Blacker was sin-binned four minutes from time. SWANSEA: Wilson (2) BARGOED: Hallett Try: A Claypole; Con: J Wilson; Pens: Tries: P Price, D Evans, D Dwyer; Pen: J stubborn. Gary Williams then made sure of the result with a late try as Ponty opened the second half of the Principality Premiership season with a victory. CROSS Keys began their Tier 2 campaign in the midseason Premiership revamp with a hard-fought victory at Pandy Park over Llanelli.

An eminently forgettable first half saw the two sides deadlocked at 3-3.

Llanelli outside-half Ian Brooks put his team in the lead with a penalty after seven minutes after the hosts No 8 Ieuan Jones was sin binned for impeding scrum-half Matthew Flanagan from taking a quick tap.

As the seconds ticked down to the interval, Keys No 10 Josh Prosser got his side back on terms with a PONTYPRIDD: Tries: H Dowden, L I Williams (3), G Williams; Cons: C Sweeney (4), L I Williams CARMARTHEN QUINS: Tries: I Evans, G Thomas; Cons: J Batcup (2) straight forward penalty.

Prosser did put Keys in the driving seat with a wellstruck penalty with 13 minutes left on the clock.

But back came the visitors and earned a penalty with two minutes to go which Brooks calmly slotted to atone for missing a sitter in the first half.

With a draw looking to be a fair result, Keys stole the match at the death with a third Prosser penalty. CROSS KEYS: Pens: J Prosser (3) LLANELLI: Pens: I Brooks (2) BEDWAS outside half Richard Powell put in an immaculate display of goal-kicking to blast over five penalties and enable his spirited side to clinch a precious away win in their first Principality Premiership Tier One outing.

The visitors fought a classic rearguard action and tackled like demons with Joe Davies putting in an outstanding display at lock while Powel once again what a fine marksman he is with three of his penalties from a distance of more than 40 metres..

Ebbw Vale scored the only tries of the match through irrepressible flanker Ronny Kynes and replacement forward Jack Goodey. Outside half Josh Lewis kicked a conversion but he generally had an off day with the boot and that was to prove to be the main difference between the sides.

Vale battled hard to get back on terms in the final stages but Bedwas refused to give way despite enjoying very little possession.

Both sets of supporters had been looking forward to this clash because Ebbw Vale were getting down to the business end of defending their title while Bedwas had enjoyed a very successful first part of the season finishing second in the table before it split. The visitors edged the previous meeting between the sides 23-22 at the Bridge Field on Boxing Day.

Flanker Rhys Clarke was making his 100th appearance for the Steelmen. The teams observed a minute’s silence before the kick-off in memory of former Ebbw Vale second row forward Mark Dicks who died suddenly at the age of 53.

Vale went on the attack from the start but stern defence by Bedwas kept them at bay. Josh Lewis had a chance to put the home side ahead in the ninth minute but his longdistance penalty attempt was unsuccessful.

Four minutes later, Powell stepped up to give Bedwas the lead with a 42 metres angled penalty goal.

The game became scrappy as both teams struggled to exetr control in the heavy conditions.

But a short lineout near the Bedwas line finally produced dividends for Damien Hudd and his men as a rolling maul ended with Kynes grabbing a try converted by Josh Lewis.

Powell made the interval score 7-6 with a fine 46 metres penalty for the visitors. EBBW VALE: Tries: R Kynes, J Goodey; Con: J Lewis BEDWAS: Pens: R Powell (5) NEWPORT produced an accomplished performance to see off Bridgend at the Brewery Field and get their Principality Premiership tier two campaign off to a winning start.

Flanker Craig Attwell bagged himself a try in each half to set up a bonus-point victory for the Black and Ambers as they also avenged a home defeat by Bridgend in the league’s first phase.

With four of their remaining six games at Rodney Parade, this win sets Craig Warlow’s side up nicely for a serious tilt at the bottom tier crown.

The visitors took a 17-0 lead into the break but lost hooker Will Evans to the sin-bin prior to half time as the contest threatened to boil over.

Bridgend managed two tries of their owen but nut was to be the Black and mbers day. BRIDGEND: Tries: J Murphy, C Williams; Cons: J Scrivens, J Murphy NEWPORT: Tries: Pen try, C Attwell (2), Hadyn Palmer; Con: M O’Brien; Pen: M O’Brien