The 33-year-old wing’s second half effort put the Wizards back in front and set them on their way to a 22-16. He has now scored 161 tries in 294 games for Aberavon, 101 of which have been in the Premiership.
His other 10 tries came during his early days at Neath (3) and his season at Carmarthen Quins (7). He was the first player to reach 100 tries in the semi-professional era and overtook the former Neath wing Kevin James, who scored 110 tries in his Premiership career.
“I’m over the moon to have the record on my own. When I started with Aberavon I never expected an outcome like this to be honest,” said Carter.
“It is something to look back on. I have been here for 12 years now and I still get the same feeling scoring tries for Aberavon from my first to my last try against Llandovery.
“I played a few games for Neath at the start of my career and then I had a year at Carmarthen Quins to freshen things up. But I came back to Aberavon and I love it here – it is my home town club.
“I’m 33 now, but I’m feeling fitter than I have ever felt. Howard Thomas has come in and put me through my paces and I’ve had to do some extras in training on my own to keep up.
“But if that’s what I have got to do for another season then that’s fine. I’m feeling really motivated and there are plenty of good youngsters here to keep me on my toes.”
It was one of those youngsters, Wale Under 20 cap Joe Gage, who gave Carter his try-scoring pass and the veteran wing believes the Premiership is the perfect breeding ground for young talent. Not that it has always been that way in his opinion.
“There are more teams coming into it which means more youngsters are getting a chance. When we first started there was more physicality involved,” he said.
“Those players who didn’t make it into the regional teams when they began came into the Premiership and it was pretty physical. But now there is more speed and it is a good stepping stone for the youngsters who want to develop their game.”
So, of the record breaking 111 tries, which ones stand out for Carter? He remembers a few, although his top picks are all from matches that Aberavon lost!
“I enjoyed the one on the Millennium Stadium in the 2011 Swalec Cup final, that’s right up there. And the three at the Liberty Stadium when we lost in the semi-finals, even though we lost again,” added Carter.
The Wizards’ 2011 Swalec Cup final team included two future internationals in James King and Ashley Beck. Pontypridd won the title 35-24.
