Indigo Premiership round-up
PONTYPRIDD marked interim head coach Chris Dicomidis’ first match in charge by winning 30-22 with a bonus point at Swansea.
Wings Niko Matawalu and Tom Edwards were both at the double for Pontypridd with Macauley Cook also scoring. Josh Phillips kicked a conversion and a penalty.
Cameron Jones scored twice in the first half for the All Whites with captain Callum Bowden scoring in the second. Rhys Jones added two conversions and a penalty.
Dicomidis has assumed responsibility for the team for the remainder of the season after Lee Davies, Geraint Lewis, Gareth Wyatt and team manager Dan Godfrey all stepped down after the 45-10 defeat against Newport.
“It’s been a tough week,” admitted Dicomidis. “We’ve lost four great guys, great people, not just great coaches. To come away from here with a bonus-point win is phenomenal for the boys.”
Merthyr edged a 10-try thriller at Aberavon 33-31.
Wing Morgan Meaclem opened the scoring two minutes in. Josh Lewis converted. Further first-half tries from Kian Evans and Craig Locke saw the visitors in front 19-12 at the interval.
Frankie Jones and Stef Andrews had earlier responded to the Meaclem and Evans tries.
Jay Baker scored a third Aberavon try but it wasn’t long before Merthyr scored a bonuspoint try via Adam Hoskins. Lewis’ conversion gave them a 26-17 lead. Aberavon seized the lead through tries from Rhodri Hughes and Shay Smallman, both converted by Davies.
But Merthyr had the final say with their fifth try scored and converted by Lewis.
Newport’s play-off spot is secure after they beat Cardiff 28-14 at Rodney Parade to make it nine consecutive bonus-point victories.
Chay Foster-Smith broke the deadlock on six minutes with a try converted by Matt O’Brien. Three minutes before the break Josh Skinner scored, with O’Brien again converting.
Che Hope bagged Newport’s third try, converted by O’Brien.
Sean Moore responded for Cardiff with a try just after charging-down a kick with Harrison James converting. But the bonus point was in the bag for Newport when full-back Jac Lloyd powered his way through for their fourth try which O’Brien again improved. Cardiff bagged a second try by Luke Pollock, converted by James.
Full-back Edd Howley’s brace helped Bridgend see off Neath 32-23 at the Brewery Field. Captain Zac O’Driscoll and scrumhalf Chris Williams also scored in a bonus-point win for the hosts. Jamin Hodgkins kicked three conversions and two penalties.
Ryan Griffiths, Ryan Evans and Morgan Kneath scored for the visitors with Kristian Jones kicking two penalties and a conversion. RGC held off a second-half fightback to win 20-15 at Carmarthen Quins.
The visitors led 20-0 at the break through Sam Stoddart and Afon Bagshaw tries. Both were converted by Sam Earl-Jones who added a penalty and a drop-goal.
The Quins came back in the second half but had to settle for a losing bonus point.