Steelmen keep up pressure on Drovers
Premiership round-up
EBBW Vale kept up the pressure on table-topping Llandovery in the Indigo Premiership as they picked up a full set of points to beat RGC 26-10.
Llandovery had made it four wins out of four a few nights earlier with their 31-12 home win over Cardiff. In a repeat of last season's final, the home team turned a 6-6 interval stalemate into a convincing win to lead the table by three points.
A tight opening 40 saw Harrison James keep the Blue & Blacks in contention with two penalties, while home full back Jack Maynard responded with two of his own against one of his former clubs.
The two kickers took the score up to 9-9 after the break before Maynard edged the Drovers ahead with his fourth success before the champions ran in three tries from Adam Warren, Nathan Hart and Gabe McDonald.
Ebbw Vale skipper Rhys Francis led from the front as he poached two tries to make it three wins from four for the Steelmen. The home hooker converted two close range lineouts, while Dragons academy wing Harry Rees-Weldon also got on the score sheet and replacement scrum half Rory Harries scored with the final move of the match to bag a precious bonus-point.
Josh Phillips kept his cool to kick Pontypridd to their first league win of the season as they triumphed 23-22 against Neath at The Gnoll.
The former Wales U20 outside-half came out on top in his personal battle with Kris Jones as he landed six penalties to Jones' four as the visitors picked up a much needed victory to boost morale.
For Neath, Jones kicked four penalties, Steff Williams laned another and Jones also converted a try from Kiaran Charles. The lead changed hands eight times during the game, with Phillips having the final say in the 69th minute to set up a nervy final 10. Hooker Rob Jones scored a try from close range for the visitors to complete their scoring.
Swansea were another side who broke their duck in the league as they triumphed 26-21 at Newport. After two bonus-points wins against Pontypool and RGC, the Black & Ambers have come down to earth with a bump after being dumped out of the cup by Cardiff and now losing their first game at Newport Stadium this season.
Outside half Rhys Jones orchestrated things superbly for the Whites, who never looked back after wing Matthew Jenkins raced in for the opening try in the 13th minute. Jones converted, but the lead didn't last long. Two tries in five minutes from home wing Lloyd Lewis, both converted by Carwyn Penny, made it 14-7 on the half-hour mark. Then Swansea hooker Owen Thomas went over from close range for a try that Jones again improved to tie things up at the break. Harvey James ran in a third try for the visitors to regain the lead before centre Joe Thomas bagged the bonus-point in the 61st minute. Elliot Freen got one back for Newport in the 70th minute, Penny adding the extras, but they couldn't break the Swansea resolve to find a final score.
Pontypool turned on the style to thrill a healthy crowd at Pontypool Park as they ran in five tries in a 45-21 defeat of Carmarthen Quins. Once again, outside half Matthew Jarvis was on song with his boot and he kicked 20 points to notch another impressive win for last season's Championship winners.
There were three firsthalf tries from the home side, Dragons academy scrum half Morgan Lloyd setting up the first for Wales U20 win Huw Anderson with a neat kick into space in the 12th minute. Walkes U20 hooker Sam Scarfe bagged the next from a driving lineout.
There was a swift response from the visitors as full back Jac Wilson intercepted and raced the length of the field to score a try that he also converted, but Pooler had the final word of an exciting half when Joel Mahoney was put over by Pat Lewis for the try of the game.
That made it 30-14 at the break and there were still two more tries to come from the home side. A first for the club from Walker Price and a forward drive from Callum Davies at the death, while Millin grabbed a consolation effort for the Quins.
The game between Bridgend and Merthyr was postponed because of illness among the Merthyr front row.
