The Welsh All Blacks ended a run of 11 consecutive defeats in all competitions with a deserved five-try win to move second behind Carmarthen Quins in pool A. The home side, who have 18 players on the injury list, started well and crossed for the game’s opening try after just seven minutes, hooker Ieuan Dobbs crashing over from close range.
They grabbed a second after quarter of an hour when No 8 Steffan Jones burst through the middle and fed scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams on his shoulder. Flanker Leon Ward got the third try after 32 minutes but the visitors responded with a score from Craig Woodall just before the break to cut Neath’s lead to 20-6 at the interval.
Neath secured the bonus point shortly after the break with a fourth try through second row Jonny Griffiths, converted by Iwan Evans. The visitors got back into the contest with 20 minutes to play when flanker Andrew Green powered over in the corner, a minute after Neath’s Griffiths was shown a yellow card.
But a late try from replacement Lewis Evans on his debut made sure of a morale-boosting victory and the perfect way for home No 8 Jones to celebrate his 50th game for the club.
Two late Bridgend tries sunk out-of-sorts Pontypridd, as the Principality Premiership champions’ miserable run of form continued in the Foster’s Challenge Cup.
Nicky Boyle and Ryan Griffiths both crossed in the closing stages to give the Ravens their first win at Sardis Road since 2006 – and make it a quickfire double after their recent win in the Premiership at the Brewery Field.
It was a win made all the more unlikely by the fact the Ravens failed to register a point until past the hour mark. The first-half concluded with Ponty leading 2-0 through Troy Cusack’s penalty.
Bridgend’s Mark Bennett-Jones and Zach O’Driscoll were both sent to the sin bin during a torrid first 40 minutes for both sides. Ponty pounced after the resumption when full-back Dale Shortly extended their advantage.
Alex Webber, instrumental in the build-up to Stuckey’s try, was then yellow-carded, as the pendulum swung Bridgend’s way. Raven’s prop Boyle scorched over and Joseph Scrivens added the extras.
Wing Griffiths then crossed the line for Bridgend in the dying embers of the game. It was the 23-year-old’s first try for the club. And it proved to be a precious score, as the Ravens held their nerve to complete an improbable triumph.
Ponty’s slump goes on. Last year’s runaway Premiership leaders now have just one win in their last four games.
It’s two wins out of two for Cardiff in the Foster’s Challenge Cup Pool B after their 32-26 home win over Aberavon.
Things didn’t start well for the Blue & Blacks as Sam Williams raced in from half-way for a try which Cameron Clement converted to give the Wizards and early 8-0, but by half-time they were ahead 10-8 thanks to a penalty try and a penalty from Callum Hall.
The first-half also ended with Cardiff being forced to play for 14 men after replacing their two props and then losing one of the replacements, Lewis Smout, to force uncontested scrums. Under the new rules that meant they were unable to put on another forward replacement.
Aberavon had lost centre David Evans to the sin-bin just before the break and that allowed Cardiff to start the second half with a bang. Two tries in a five minute burst shortly after the re-start created some daylight on the scoreboard for the home team when wings Oli Smyth and Ceri Young crossed.
The bonus point try came in the 52nd minute when Mike Hale blasted his way through the Aberavon defence and raced to the line. Hall converted two of the tries to extend the home lead to 32-8 and the game seemed over.
The visitors’ had other ideas, though, as wing Aaron Grabham crossed and then Cardiff found themselves reduced to 12 men for almost 10 minutes after yellow cards for Griffiths and Aled Rees. Grabham ran in his second try to cut the gap to 12 points with eight minutes to go and then Rhys Forse crossed for an injury time try that at least allowed Aberavon to leave with two points after scoring four tries and reducing the deficit from 24 points to six.
