INDIGO PREMIERSHIP
INTEREST was high in the Premiership clash between the two sides who headed the Premiership Cup conferences – Llandovery and Newport.
And Newport took the honours in a rousing game that saw them turn a 17-3 deficit into a 27-17 victory thanks to 24 unanswered points in the second half.
Llandovery coach Gareth Potter was left to rue missed opportunities from his side.
“We had opportunities to be far further ahead in the first half but Newport lasted the pace better and we have no complaints,” he said.
“Their forwards controlled the second half and our possible lack of match fitness may have been a contributing factor to our defeat.”
The Drovers took the lead through Lloyd Pike and play was even before Newport were hit by two tries in as many minutes. The first was scored by Osian Davies and the second by Tomi Lewis.
Newport rallied by scoring four tries in the second half. Hooker Will Griffiths grabbed two from close range. Eliot Frewen and Cameron Lewis also scored to seal a memorable win.
Carmarthen Quins climbed to the top of the table with a hardfought 17-14 win over RGC.
The Quins got off to a flying start with Ben Leung crossing for the only first-half try.
Soon into the second half, Steffan Marshall kicked his side into a 10-point lead but RGC hit back with a Brodie Coghlan try.
The Quins extended their lead when Torin Myhill crashed over. RGC fought back once again when Afon Bagshaw scored to secure a losing bonus point.
Merthyr earned a frenetic 32-15 win at Swansea.
The hosts scored first through Tom Sloane, but that was cancelled out by Merthyr’s Rhys Williams. Jon Fox regained the lead for Swansea but Justin James squeezed over to level the match.
Gareth Thompson added a penalty for Merthyr before Williams scored his second of the day. Kieran Charles handed Swansea a lifeline before Jarrod Cushion sealed a bonus-point win for the away side.
Aberavon’s Chris Banfield delivered a match-winning performance to ensure his side left Pontypridd with a 25-16 win.
Aberavon opened the scoring with a penalty try before Ponty’s Cally James levelled up. Banfield kicked a penalty and scored a try to put Aberavon in charge.
The Wizards backed this up in the second period with an Andrew Waite try, while Ponty’s only second-half points came from Jake Lloyd penalties.
Llanelli claimed their first victory of the season with a 26-14 win over Bridgend Ravens.
Sam O’Connor, Nathan Hart and Rhodri Jones scored to give Llanelli a 19-0 lead at the break.
Bridgend were better in the second half as Caine Woolerton bagged a brace of tries, but Llanelli’s Hart scored a second to seal victory.