Division One East
Beddau registered the shock of the day in SWALEC Division One East as they inflicted the first defeat of the season on visitors Newbridge.
The Green and Golds secured the 13-8 triumph thanks to a try for scrum-half Carl Thomas, but were also grateful for an heroic defensive display which repelled wave after wave of desperate attack from Newbridge in the dying minutes.
Bargoed moved to the top of the table after their bonus-point win over Tredegar. The hosts notched up six tries – including braces for winger Jordan Purcell and flanker Alex Herbert – in the 34-24 victory.
Tredegar however remain rooted to the bottom of the table, but their performance in defeat belied their lowly position, with only the fitness of Bargoed eventually ending their brave resistance.
Defending champions Ebbw Vale continued their free-scoring run of form with a nine-try thrashing of Blackwood at Eugene Cross Park. Tom Ashmead, Wes Cunliffe and Charlie Simpson scored two tries apiece as the Steelmen ran out 57-3 winners to keep up the pressure on the league leaders.
In a close encounter between two of the league’s struggling sides, Rumney ran out 27-23 winners at Glamorgan Wanderers. The teams scored three each, but Danny Clark’s kicking proved enough to secure the visitors’ second win of the season.
Gilfach Goch shut out the threat of visiting Treorchy, recording two tries in a 15-0 victory at Welfare Park. The Zebras never looked like getting on the scoreboard, although the hosts’ day was soured by a season-ending shoulder injury for winger Dan Roberts.
Elsewhere, five-try Mountain Ash, who led by 21 points at the interval, resisted a second-half comeback from Merthyr to run out 32-23 winners at Duffryn Pennar Parc.
Division One West
UWIC stay top of SWALEC League One West after a narrow 27-23 win over Tondu. Winger Tom James scored twice for the students and fly-half Rhydian Morris enjoyed a brilliant day with the boot adding a conversion, four penalties and a drop goal. Darren Thomas and Mark Roberts crossed the line for Tondu but they eventually fell four points short of their opponents.
Whitland, UWIC’s main rivals for top spot saw their title hopes dented by a surprise defeat to TATA Steel. Simon Evans scored one of TATA’s two tries and Diggy Bird inflicted more damage on Whitland adding a conversion and two penalties. Three penalties in response from Jonathan Thomas were unable to stop Whitland slipping to what was a disappointing 18-9 defeat.
Bottom of the table Bonymaen had another defeat inflicted upon them as Narbeth ran in six tries to easily triumph 39-12. Wingers Nick Jones and Tom Burnell both grabbed a brace in what was a five try blitz in the second half. Bonymaen had gone into the interval trailing by just the three points but further tries from Captain Steve Martin and Johnny Morgan sealed an easy win. Nick Jones added three conversions and a penalty as Narbeth’s interplay between backs and forwards was too much for their opposition.
Elsewhere, Bridgend and Llangennech fought out the closest game of the day with the away side edging out their opponents by just a single point. Ashley Banfield and Gareth Walters scored for the visitors with Aled Roberts kicking eight points. Cory Butler’s kicking game saw Bridgend trail just 6-8 at the interval and despite Stuart Nation’s try, they eventually went down 17-18.
Mid table Waunarlwydd went down to Llanharan as three tries from the home side proved to be decisive. Chris Williams, Luke James and Matthew Huish all crossed in the 20-13 victory.
A five point win for Carmarthen saw them move up a few places into midtable after a 26-19 win over Ammanford. The two Rhys’s; Lane and Lewis added to Luke Marshall’s try as Carmarthen fought back from being 13-16 behind at half-time.
