Wing Rhys Ward Jones opened the
score for the hosts by finishing off a superb backs move, but for all their
possession, they only led 5-3 at the quarter mark as Neath made use of one
foray into opposition territory for Dean Cummins to fire over a penalty.
Before the interval, the Ravens were awarded a penalty try by referee Martyn Williams when
they drove the Neath scrum back over their own try line.
The Welsh All Blacks came out with their team-talk ringing
in their ears after the break, and following a number of forwards surges, Roy
Jones barged over. Lee Davies and Tom Morgan were yellow-carded and the Neath
recovery was definitely on with first, Lee Evans driving over, before they were
awarded the match’s second penalty try as the Ravens illegally stopped a rolling
maul on their try line.
Pontypridd stretched their lead at the top of the
Premiership to seven points but had to rally to overcome a spirited Newport at
Sardis Road on Friday night (February 22).
The hosts led for most of this encounter until the 77th minute, but two late converted
tries gave Ponty a 32-24 success, securing a bonus point in the process.
Chris Dicomidis, Wayne O’Connor, Matthew Nuthall and Dan
Godfrey crossed the whitewash for Ponty, with Dai Flanagan contributing the rest
of the points with the boot.
Second-placed Bedwas lost ground in the battle for the top
when they went down13-8 at home to Cross Keys on the same evening in almost
arctic conditions at the Bridge Field. The visitors are now only a point behind their victims in
third spot.
Ryan James bagged Keys’ only try in the first period, which
was converted by Dean Gunter, before he was sin binned towards the end of the
first half. Despite this, Bedwas didn’t take hold and their numerical advantage
was wasted.
Dorian Jones put over two penalties either side of a Lewis
Robling effort in the second half, while a late Scott Williams touchdown gave
Bedwas a losing bonus point in a much better second half showing, although the
match was riddled with handling errors from both sides.
In the other game, Carmarthen Quins beat Swansea for the
fourth time this season; winning 23-8 after leading just 6-5 at the break.
Swansea finished with only 13 men after the late dismissals of David Blyth and
Ieuan Dobbs.
A penalty try and a Rheon James touchdown earned the Quins
10 points, with Chris Banfield’s boot doing the rest. Jamie Thomas crossed in the
first minute for Swansea.
In the Championship, only game survived the weather, but
Narberth will wish it hadn’t after going down 61-9 at Tata Steel.
The hosts ran in nine tries in total, with Simon Evans and
Stuart Edbrook running in a brace each. Gareth Edwards, Lloyd Elliot, Ricky
Thomas, Cameron Davies and Gareth Walter also crossed, with Walter also
converting five of them and kicking two penalties.
James Russell kicked three penalties for the visitors, who
missed the chance to close the gap on Cardiff Met in third place, having now
played a game more than them and fourth-placed Newbridge.
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