Super Rygbi round-up
NEWPORT were again in free-scoring form as they ran in 11 tries on their way to a crushing 73-33 home win over Aberavon to make it three from three in Super Rygbi Cymru.
Flanker Hunter Ward and hooker Wade Langley both bagged a brace with back rower Josh Reid, lock Ethan Phillips, full-back Carwyn Penny, wing pair Brogan Leary and Fin Baker, centre Joe Westwood and replacement scrum-half Dafydd Buckland also scoring for Newport.
Will Ford sent over eight conversions in addition to one from Penny.
For Newport, it was also a second successful defence for the season of the SRC Challenger Shield, and fourth in total after taking it off Ebbw Vale back in March.
The Black & Ambers have scored 23 tries in their first three games.
Aberavon’s tries were scored by centre Garyn Smith, wing duo Felix Gilbert and Frankie Jones, scrum-half Scott Whitlock and replacement Elis Cox.
Ebbw Vale are also three from three but needed a late try from wing Dafydd Thomas to snatch a 33-31 win over RGC.
The Steelmen had been 28-3 up at one stage, but the north Walians rallied to lead 31-28 – before having to settle for two bonus points.
Skipper Ethan Phillips, prop Luke Garrett – on his 150th appearance – No 8 Ryan Jenkins and fullback Morgan Rees were the other Ebbw scorers. Harri Ford kicked four conversions.
Two second half tries from No.8 Sam Williams sparked RGC – who also had lock Huw Davies and scrum-half Tudur Jones on the scoresheet. Billy McBryde added 11 points from the tee.
Cardiff maintained their own 100 per cent winning start with an emphatic 43-5 win over Pontypool at the Arms Park to secure all six points.
All of the points in the match were scored in the first half with the Blue & Blacks scoring seven times.
Loosehead Ioan Emanuel grabbed two of them, with wing Joe Goodchild, hooker Tom Howe, tight-head prop Tom Harper, back rower Gethyn Cannon and outside half Ben Coomer also going over. Coomer added the extras.
No.8 Ben Williams grabbed a consolation score for Pooler.
Meanwhile after starting their title defence with back-to-back defeats, reigning champions Llandovery are off the mark at the third time of asking after they held on to beat Bridgend 29-26 at the Brewery Field.
The Ravens twice took the lead in the first half, through back-rower Benji Williams and prop Nathan Evans, both converted by Fraser Jones.
But two tries for Drovers wing Kian Abraham and one for loosehead Dino Dallavalle and two conversions from Ioan Hughes saw Llandovery with their noses in front 19-14 at the break.
Captain Joe Powell scored a bonus-point winning fourth try for the visitors after the break, with Hughes’ conversion followed by a penalty extending their lead to 29-14.
But Bridgend rallied. They were awarded a penalty try on 71 minutes and another try four minutes later scored by Edd Howley, which went unconverted, reduced the deficit to three points. But the visitors, despite having two players sent to the sin bin, held out for their first win of the season.
Elsewhere, a second half hat-trick off the bench from young Scarlets scrum-half Alfie Luger inspired Carmarthen Quins to a 43-35 victory from behind at home against Swansea.
Both sides were looking to secure their first win of the season after defeats in their first two games, and Swansea were 20-12 to the good at half-time courtesy of tries from full-back Lewis Edwards, wing Iwan Glynn and player head coach Joe Thomas. Luke Price added five points from the tee.
No.8 Lewys Millin and wing Eilir George scored first half tries for Quins, with Ifan Davies converting one.
Centre Jack Hoskins’ unconverted try after the break secured Swansea a bonus point and extended their lead to 25-12.
But the introduction of Wales U18 star Luger changed the game in Quins’ favour. The 18-year-old looked a class act, helping himself to three tries while centre Gabe McDonald and lock Lee Taylor – on his 250th Quins appearance – also went over. McDonald converted three of them.
Thomas and Edwards both grabbed their second tries for the Whites but it’s now three defeats from three for Swansea.
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