It was another crazy weekend of Welsh Premiership Rugby: there were cards galore, shock results and a severe case of déjà vu.
Leaders Llandovery surely headed to the Talbot Athletic Ground confident of claiming their seventh straight bonus point win. At the start of the day, there were 24 points and ten places between themselves and their hosts Aberavon but at the end of the 80 minutes, there was nothing to chose between the sides with the score tied 28-28.
It was always a tight affair at Aberavon, who led 19-15 at the break after some excellent kicking by fly-half Jamie Davies, who bagged 14 first-half points through four penalties and the conversion of a John Phillips try.
Davies also went on to land two more penalties after the interval and convert a Joe Heatley touchdown.
Llandovery had the edge in the second half, however, as Adam Warren and Shaun Miles scored tries within five minutes of each other and Rhys Jones converted both of them and put over a penalty.
In an unbelievable encounter at Pandy Park, 59 points were scored: there were six yellow cards, one red card and just two tries, but ultimately, the only statistic that mattered was that Bedwas won out 31-28 over Cross Keys.
Bedwas raced into a 25-10 half time lead thanks to a Stuart Thomas try and 20 points from the boot of Richard Powell, as Cross Keys struggled through the majority of the first half with a numerical disadvantage. Garry Horrigan, Dan Hodge and Aled James were all sinbinned for the hosts, while Matthew John was yellow carded for Bedwas.
In the second half, it was Bedwas that fell foul of the referee with replacement James Richards given a straight red for a high tackle, while Simon Grainger was sinbinned moments later.
The Keys began to close the gap on the visitors with Gunter adding to his first half penalty and conversion with six more penalties. However, it was the boot of Powell that was to have the final say as he slotted his eighth penalty of the day in the dying moments to seal the win.
There must have been a severe case of déjà vu for many of the Swansea and Carmarthen supporters as, a week after Quins dispatched the All Whites 41-17 at Carmarthen Park, they secured the same result at St Helens.
Winger Jason Harrier stole the show with a well-taken hat-trick as the Quins crossed for six tries in all, while Mefin Davies’ men now sit bottom after just one win in eight.
Llanelli visited the capital hoping to end Cardiff’s three match winning run at home, and they did just that, comfortably defeating their hosts 38-17.
The West Walians were also in control after Justin James’ touchdown cancelled out an early drop-goal from the boot of Gareth Davies, with Steffan Hughes and Kristian Phillips also crossing for the visitors in the first period.
Llanelli left it late to secure the try bonus point with replacement Kyle Evans going over in injury time to add some polish to the win, Owen Williams meanwhile notched up 18 points with the boot.
For Cardiff, it is their fourth straight defeat in all competitions and will next meet Neath at the Arms Park next Saturday as the two once great Welsh clubs scrap for much-needed points.
By the same token, Neath suffered their sixth defeat losing out 13-8 to Bridgend Ravens in a scrappy affair at the Gnoll.
Outside half Jamie Murphy was the hero of the day for the Ravens as he collected all of his side's points. The visitors raced into a 10-0 lead through a penalty and a converted try, but Neath narrowed the gap just before the break through a Dai Langdon penalty.
After the interval, Murphy restored Bridgend’s ten point lead before Gareth Gravell grabbed what proved to be a late consolation try for the hosts.
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