Ponty looked to be in complete control at half time after Andrew Jenkins and Matthew Hutchings had crossed for tries and Neil Burnett had added a conversion. That gave them a handy 10 point lead and seemed to have put them on the road to victory.
However, the cultured boot of outside half Jamie Davies eased the home side back into contention before tries by fullback Mark Bennett and wing Richard Carter turned the game on its head. Aberavon finished with a stunning 23-12 victory, the Wizards scoring 20 unanswered points in the second half to notch the win over their visitors.
The second try by right wing Carter was created by a superb midfield break from Wales U18 star Ashley Beck and Davies ended with 13 points from three penalties and two conversions.
Champions Neath got a shock at home as last season’s runners-up Ebbw Vale beat them 24-17, their first defeat at The Gnoll since October 28th 2006. Former Wales U21 centre James Lewis sped away for two of Vale’s four tries and it took a late penalty from Aled Bevan to earn Neath a bonus point.
Neath’s defeat gave Cardiff the chance to move level with them on points at the top of the table as they pipped Bridgend 18-15 at the Brewery Field. Lock James Down and centre Nathan Rees crossed for first-half tries for the visitors as they raced into a 13-6 interval lead, but five penalties from the boot of Gareth David kept the Ravens in touch until the end.
A try four minutes from time by replacement No.8 Mike Grimes earned Glamorgan Wanderers a 15-15 home draw with Llanelli, though had Luke Ford’s conversion hit the mark they might have taken all the points.
A try in each half by hooker Craig Hawkins ensured the visitors remained in the hunt and his second score put Llanelli ahead 15-10 after the scores had been locked 10-10 at the interval.
Newport ran out 20-0 winners over Maesteg, with Mike Poole, Matthew Veater and Lewis Evans crossing for tries, while Cross Keys ran in four in their 37-10 home win over Llandovery. Hooker Lloyd Burns grabbed two of the home tries and Dan Dark and Lee Humphreys got the others. Leon Andrews chipped in with 17 points with four conversions and three penalties.
Stuart Thomas put the boot into his former Swansea teammates as he kicked four vital penalties in Bedwas’s 19-6 home triumph over the All Whites. Thomas also converted Matthew Pizey’s interception try.
