EVERGREEN FISH KEEPS CARDIFF IN THE TITLE RACE
DAN Fish rolled back the years on his 100th appearance for his home town team as he guided Cardiff to a vital 32-15 bonus-point win over Aberavon in the Indigo Group Premiership.
Aled Thomas kicked the first points of the game after 11 minutes and then helped to send Steff Andrews over for the opening try of the game to give the Wizards a great start.
Loose head legend Rowan Jenkins was celebrating his 300th appearance for Aberavon and the power of the visitor’s tight five had a lot to do with them staying in the contest for as long as they did.
Cardiff ’s fightback began with a 17th try of the season from Dewi Cross that made it 8-5 at the break. Fish then took charge in the second half with a penalty, conversion of lock James Richards’ try, a drop goal and further conversions of tries from Morgan Allen and James Beal.
From being three points down at half-time, Cardiff were 24 points clear to keep them one point behind league leaders Llandovery with a game in hand. The Wizards grabbed a consolation score at the death from Casey Williams which Rhys Jones converted.
Newport made it three wins in nine days as they beat Merthyr 33-27 to move ever closer to busting their way into the play-off picture.
Having accounted for Pontypridd a week last Thursday, and then Carmarthen Quins last Tuesday, they were good value for their latest victory over one of the form teams in the Indigo Premiership.
If this was a blow to The Ironmen’s chances of grabbing a home semifinal, it certainly underlined the title potential and credentials of Matt O’Brien’s Black & Ambers. They had a bonus-point in the bag by the 50th minute.
Former Wales Sevens wing Lloyd Lewis went over twice and Wales U20 centre Joe Westwood and scrum half Dafydd Buckland got the others. The boot of O’Brien did the rest of the damage as he kicked 13 points.
To their credit, Merthyr stayed in the game throughout and were undone by a yellow card to back row man Paddy McBride midway through the first half. While he was off, Newport plundered two tries and 14 points.
Former Dragons outside half Josh Lewis picked up 12 points and the four tries scored by the visitors, from Tavis Knoyle, Lewis, Dafydd Thomas and Dan Wall, meant they left with two points in the end.
Carmarthen Quins ended a run of four straight defeats with a narrow 32-31 home triumph over RGC.
Defeat for the Gogs extended their streak of away losses to five in a row, but only by the narrowest of margins. RGC lock Bryn Jones celebrated his 100th appearance for the North Wales team by setting up a late try for Scarlets academy product Dion Jones, the outside half adding the conversion to put his side within a point before they ran out of time.
It was Quins outside half Steffan Marshall who added the penalties which were to prove crucial, as RGC outscored them in tries five to four.
The home side started strongly with two tries in the opening 20 minutes, the best of these finished in the corner by wing Corum Nott.
RGC are just a couple of places higher in the table in seventh place, so you would expect them to hit back – which they did through No 8 Jordan Jones with Dion Jones adding the conversion.
Quins extended their lead through a penalty from Marshall before a strong run from RGC left wing Matt Buchanan set up a try for supporting flanker and captain Dan Owen.
RGC took the lead just before half time with scrum half Efan Jones diving over from a driving maul. Quins came out strongly from the break, creating space out wide for flanker Lewys Millin to score.
RGC gifted a try to home back Josh Batcup, however the North Wales side maintained their pressure, replacement back rower Elis Evans going over.
With the clock running down, Marshall took advantage of a penalty opportunity to push the lead back out to two scores.
Replacement hooker Gareth Harvey notched a hat trick of tries as Bridgend Ravens maintained their improved form in the second half of the season with a 47-12 win at Llanelli.
This comprehensive victory meant Llanelli’s struggles continue, the Premiership’s bottom club suffering another heavy defeat as they prepare to take a break from league action next season.
Given the form of the two sides coming into this game it was unsurprising that Bridgend started stronger, a smooth move ended up with wing Iwan Griffith going over out wide.
However, that spurred Llanelli into action and they do have pedigree in the team with former and current Wales U20 stars, back rower Tom Phillips finishing off from close range.
The Ravens hit back in style, Griffith again involved, but this time he combined with scrum half Chris Williams to send Luke Price over for the try. The outside half added the conversion.
Bridgend added a third try shortly before half time with hooker Evan Yardley going over from the driving maul.
Llanelli centre Joe Hutchings added another to his try scoring tally this season with Harri Williams converting to keep his side in touch. The visitors struck back from the kick off with full back Edd Howley adding the bonus point try.
From then on it was the Harvey show as his hat trick put the icing on the cake, with Bridgend’s two hookers scoring four tries between them as the home side struggled to cope with the driving maul.*