The Drovers continued their perfect start with a fourth successive bonus-point victory to make themselves the team that everyone has to catch in the first half of the new style tournament. They travel to last season’s runners-up, Aberavon, this weekend for another tough test.
The last time the Drovers won their opening four fixtures in the Premiership was in 2015, when they on to reach the semi-finals before losing to champions elect Ebbw Vale. Neath had made an impressive start to their season with two wins out of three and came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders to go ahead through an Ed Howley penalty.
Llandovery soon settled and went into the lead when full back Tomi Lewis ran in the first try of the game that Kristian Jones converted. The Drovers lost hooker Ricky Guest to the sin-bin soon after, but they failed to let that deter their revival and they extended their lead when outside half Jones crossed just before the break.
The momentum did not stop there as the hosts added a third try through second-row Jack Jones a minute into the second half. Jack Maynard kicked a penalty in between two Neath tries, but it was Llandovery who ensured maximum points when Berian Watkins darted over at the death for try number four and a fourth straight success that gives the Drovers a six point lead at the top of the table.
Carmarthen Quins were happy to be back at The Park for the first time this season, although their 10-6 win over Swansea wasn’t the greatest way to celebrate. It did, however, make it back-to-back wins and they will be at home again this week against Bridgned.
The Quins, who shocked last season’s Premiership runners-up Aberavon last weekend at the Talbot Athletic Ground, had six Scarlets in their match day squad against the Whites, including Welsh international scrum half Aled Davies. In tricky conditions, kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes, but it was Swansea who made the sharper opening.
Owen Howe’s penalty midway through the half put the Whites ahead, and that was to be the only real action of the opening 40 minutes. It was a similar trend after the interval with full-back Howe negotiating the conditions to split the posts with another three points to give the visitors hope of picking up only a second win of the season.
It was not the day for expansive, flowing rugby as the rain belted down at The Park. The experienced Quins pack dominated and the pressure was soon rewarded. Something had to give and midway through the second-half the Quins went ahead through a penalty try to make it 7-6.
Prop Richard Murphy’s yellow card merely added to Swansea’s woes and when Aled Thomas kicked a penalty with 10 minutes to go it took the game away from the visitors and allowed the Quins to hold out for victory.
Aberavon made light of a host of injuries to give RGC 1404 a hell of a fright at a rain-soaked Parc Eirias, where they led 24-23 moving into the final quarter. Last season’s Premiership runners-up refused to roll over and it took three quick-fire penalties in the final 15 minutes from New Zealand outside half Jacob Botica to help the Gogs get over the line against the Wizards and claim a 32-24 victory that puts them into second place .
The Wizards made the brighter start in North Wales and went ahead with a penalty try following a thumping, full-bodied drive. But that would prove to be their only points of the half as the hosts came marching back, ignited by three Botica penalties and tries from flanker Dan Owen and lock Andrew Williams.
Again, the pendulum had swung as Aberavon fought back to go ahead after the half-time break. No.8 Ben Thomas dived over in the corner with outside-half Steffen Williams adding the extras. The outside-half was there again to kick three-points and close the deficit to six-points.
Chris Banfield’s try, followed by Williams’ conversion put the Wizards ahead by one with 15 minutes left on the clock. But Botica’s penalty hat-trick at the end made it a third win on the bounce for the WRU National Cup holders.
Rising Wales Under 18 star Harri Morgan added to his growing reputation as he scored two tries on his Bridgend debut to earn the Ravens their first victory of the Premiership season as they downed Llanelli 27-18 at the Brewery Field.
The 17-year-old scrum half came off the bench to cross for two second-half tries as the Ravens came from behind to notch a much needed win. The home side made a blistering start with outside half Cai Evans’s penalty and full-back Tyler Williams’s try putting them 10-0 up in the opening quarter.
But Llanelli came charging back with Ioan Hughes kicking a penalty and Tom Rogers’ converted effort levelling the game. And it got better for the visitors who sneaked ahead at the break when Taylor Davies went over.
After the interval, Evans and his opposite number Billy McBryde exchanged penalties to keep the deficit at five points heading into the final 15 minutes. Then it was time for Morgan, who had partnered Evans on Wales’ tour to South African last month, to steal the glory with his two tries.
First he fired over to level the scores, allowing his half-back partner Evans to grab the lead with the conversion, and then he put the cherry on top of the cake for the hosts with his match-clinching second try.
