Thursday 18 April 2013

Wednesday's rugby round-up

A last minute penalty try for Neath severely damaged Llanelli’s play-off hopes as the Welsh All Blacks came back to win a thriller 30-26 at The Gnoll in the Principality Premiership last night.

Llanelli had to make do with a losers’ bonus point as they fret over other team’s results in the chase for the play-offs, and the right to face leaders Pontypridd for the Premiership title.

Neath’s result was more surprising given their injury-hit team selection, but they started the brighter and crossed after seven minutes when the returning Elliot Jones scored in the corner having already had one effort ruled out for a forward pass.

He crossed again just after the half-hour to extend their lead, after the visitors’ Jordan Williams had kicked a penalty.

Williams kicked another penalty, but Neath shocked their high-flying visitors again when on the stroke of half-time the forwards drove a full 30 metres from a line-out, finishing with Leon Ward diving over the give the hosts a 15-6 half-time lead.

Steffan Jones made it 20-6 with another try two minutes in to the second half, but then a crazy 15 minutes saw Llanelli turn the game on its head.

Williams kicked another penalty, converted a Nic Reynolds try and then converted his own effort to put the visitors 23-20 ahead. He then traded kicks with Neath’s Bowdy Davies to leave the score at 23-26 with nine left on the clock.

Having had a man in the bin, Neath returned to full strength and saw two Llanelli yellow cards which had them playing against 13 in the final stages. The pressure told, and referee Rhys Thomas had no option but to punish the visitors’ persistent offending with the late penalty try to win it for the Black Machine, with Davies converting.

Llanelli will now be hoping that Neath put up a similarly good showing against play-off rivals Llandovery on the weekend as they prepare to do battle with Newport.

In the Championship, Bargoed won the battle between second and third with a 46-10 win over Tata Steel at Bargoed Park.

They cut Ebbw Vale’s lead at the top to 19 points, running in seven tries to easily take the maximum on offer.

Lee Pearson and James Pizey both grabbed braces, with lock Darren Lynch, prop James Howe and full back Chris Mapps running in the others. Josh Prosser converted four of them and also kicked a penalty.

Hooker Sean Crocker crossed for Tata’s reply.

Bridgend Athletic continued Pontypool’s miserable season with a 36-30 win, although the visitors took away two bonus points as consolation.

The Ath scored six tries – each from a different pair of hands – as Aled Thomas, Tom Morgan, Sean Williams, Griff Davies, Sean Derrick and Rhodri Apsee were all able to celebrate. Pontypool notched four tries of their own, with Ashley Norton diving over for a brace and John Powell and Josh Guy getting the others.

Bonymaen also registered a victory, upsetting Narberth 19-15 thanks to tries by Nathan Brooks, John Jones and Richard Murphy.

There was also late drama at Heol y Cyw versus Rhydyfelin in One East, as the referee overruled his two touch judges stood behind the posts and said a last-minute conversion attempt by the visitors hadn’t gone between the posts.

This left the result at 24-24, with both sides matching each other in almost perfect symmetry. They both pick up try scoring bonus points, Heol y Cyw supporters seeing braces for Adam O’Driscoll and Scott Hancock, the latter with two conversions. Rhydyfelin’s scores came from Rhys King (two), Gareth Cann and Lewis Smith, with Smith converting two before the late controversy.

In Two East, Rhiwbina and Llantrisant kept their respective promotion chases going with wins. The former beat near-neighbours Llanishen 35-17 at home, with second-placed Llantrisant edging Fleur de Lys 23-18 away.

In Three West, newly-crowned champions Amman United celebrated with their 19th win from 20 league games this season via a seven-try, 43-3 win away at lowly Pontyberem.

Dean Williams and Gavin Lewis both notched braces of tries, with Christian Madge, Doug Jenkins and Stephen Herbert also registering. A Mike Sauro penalty put some points on the board for the hosts.

Trebanos have been in equally excellent form at the top of Three South West, and continued that with a 32-13 win at Neath Athletic. Nic Damianovic was the hero with a personal tally of 22 points – two tries, three conversions and two penalties. The other 10 came from Kristian and Nathan Jones scores.

It was a remarkable second half performance from both sides, the score having been just 3-3 at half-time.

Maesteg Celtic also picked up an impressive 40-23 win over Morriston, Lloyd Jenkins grabbing a brace of tries for the hosts.

In Four East, Blaenavon crossed the whitewash seven times as they won 41-5 at Chepstow. Scott Preece and Richard Derrington did it twice, with Jamie Noble, Lee Wright and Adam Williams also finding themselves over the try line.

Fishguard also helped themselves to seven tries in a 43-7 win over Hendy in Four West, climbing up to fourth in the table as a result. James Griffiths had two scores and kicked two conversions, with Alun George, Gareth Adamson, Ed Bendall, Owain Morgans and Rhys Lewis also crossing. Nigel Howells got Hendy’s sole effort.

Dinas Powys climbed above Glyncoch to the top of Five South Central thanks to a 43-7 beating of Rhigos at home. Dai Lloyd was on hand for a hat-trick of scores and four conversions, with Sam Alderman, Nathan and Adam Williams also putting five points on the board.

Finally, Baglan almost hit a half century of points with a 49-0 drubbing of lowly Llandybie in Five South West. Neil Gadd, Rhys Davies and Daniel Blethyn all dived over for braces of tries, with Kevin Thomas and Ryan Crompton also notching.

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