Bradley Coombes scored two tries in the opening seven minutes and wing Dale Stuckey also crossed for a brace with a try each side of the interval to send the Valley Commandos to the summit of top tier.
Poor discipline from the visitors’ gifted Coombes his opening try on three minutes and just four minutes later the centre crashed over in the corner following a clinical phase of attacking rugby. Llandovery outside half Jack Maynard offered brief resistance to the blistering start as he wrestled his way over, but it didn’t take long for the hosts to respond with the first of Stuckey’s tries.
Maynard and Callum Hall exchanged penalties as Ponty took a 10 point lead into the break. Rhys Shellard wasted no time in bagging the bonus-point try before Stuckey ran in the fifth try. The sixth came soon after through Gary Williams before Llandovery clambered their way back to make the scoreline slightly healthier reading.
Aberavon managed to avoid another RGC 1404 comeback as they recorded the double over the north Walians and picked up their first win in Tier One with a 28-14 home triumph.
The Gogs had come back from a 24-3 deficit to beat Merthyr in the opening round of fixtures a few weeks ago, and the Wizards began to sweat as their visitors started to push for a winning score in the final quarter with the game finely balanced 16-14 in favour of the home side.
But two late tries from Ben Davies and Steff Williams ensured there would be no last-gasp heroics from Mark Jones’ men this time. It took only nine minutes for the visitors to score as skipper Maredydd Francis forced his way over following good work from his fellow forwards.
Jacob Botica added the conversion, but the boot of Steff Williams chipped away at the lead and, by the break, Aberavon led 9-7. Seven minutes into the second half Matthew Jenkins skipped over for a home try and Williams added the extras. RGC then forced their way over from a scrum to close the gap to just two points.
With another notable comeback suddenly a distinct possibility, Aberavon held their nerve and they scored again with 10 minutes left to play as they worked an overlap to put Davies over. Then Williams completed his afternoon’s work with a try from a turn over that made the game safe.
Reigning champions Ebbw Vale made it two wins on the bounce as they edged out Carmarthen Quins in a thriller at The Park, winning away from home 30-26.
Jonathan Davies scored tries either side of the interval as the Steelmen held on for victory at the end to stay on track to defend their title. Having only just squeezed into the top tier on the final game of the opening half of the season, Nigel Davies’ side are beginning to pick up some form as the business end of the season approaches.
Having lost their their opening game to Bedwas, the Gwent side have now beaten Aberavon and Carmathen Quuins to prove they won’t be handing over their title without a fight. Steffan Marshall had put the hosts ahead with a penalty, but ex-London Welsh wing James Lewis crossed for the opening try.
Marshall restored the Quins’ advantage before prop Nathan Williams was sin-binned and No.8 Davies went over for his first score. Chris Levesley then raced over for Ebbw’s third try before half-time with Marshall ensuring his team kept within striking distance with a penalty.
The outside half was on hand again to close the gap but Davies added the bonus-point soon after. Both teams went down to 14 when Torin Myhill and Dominic Franchi were carded, but the Quins found the next try through flanker Shaun Jones.
Craig Evans added the extras to put the hosts into the lead, but Josh Lewis remained cool to kick back-to-back penalties in the final 10 minutes to steal the win.
Merthyr made it two wins in a week over Bedwas at the Bridge Field as they followed up their WRU National Cup victory with a bonus-point triumph in Tier 1. The Ironmen romped to a convincing 40-20 victory through tries from Justin James, Craig Locke, Richard Carter and Nathan Trevett.
It took just 12 minutes for Merthyr to score the opening points, with former Llanelli scrum-half James touching down in his first start for the club. Full back Matthew Jarvis converted, before exchanging penalties with Bedwas’ Richard Powell as both sides kept the scoreboard moving.
Bedwas managed to draw level just before half-time after scoring from a charge down seconds before the break. But it was all Merthyr after the interval as the visitors pulled away on their way to a bonus point.
A Jarvis penalty put them back in front, before Ironmen captain Locke crossed on 50 minutes to open up a gap. Former Aberavon wing Carter dived over on the hour mark to put the result beyond doubt, before front row replacement Trevett secured the bonus point on 71 minutes.
A stunning solo effort from Bedwas replacement Pat Lewis in the dying seconds was nothing more than as a consolation score.
