League leaders Pontypridd scored first but the hosts closed the gap at the top of the table with their 34-8, bonus-point win at Eugene Cross Park that completed the double over the reigning champions.
Ponty struck inside 10 minutes when Geraint Walsh released full-back Gary Williams, who brushed off three tackles to score a try near the posts that Ceri Sweeney converted. Ebbw Vale had to survive a ferocious opening before finally levelling 10 minutes later.
Wing Chris Levesley made the most of a missed tackle and ran in from 22 metres out. Outside-half Iain Smerdon converted and then added a penalty to edge the Steelmen’ ahead 10-8 at half-time.
And that set the stage for the hosts to ramp up the pressure in the second half through their impressive pack. Tries from Joe Franchi and Ronnie Kynes put Ebbw 26-8 ahead on the hour after they had demolished Ponty’s set-piece.
The home side’s forward strength proved too much as a penalty try was conceded by the visitors inside the final 10 minutes. The bonus point score resulted from too many infringements from the visitors at the set piece.
Ponty’s lead at the top is now down to points difference with Ebbw Vale joining them on 61 points, but Llandovery kept up their challenge with an 80-8 victory over Neath at The Gnoll. They now have 60 points and they meet Neath again on Wednesday night at Church Bank in the Foster’s Challenge Cup.
Neath’s worst season in their proud history hit a new low with this humiliation in front of their home fans. Now head coaches Paul Williams and Gareth Llewellyn must somehow muster a response during the week.
Two games in six days against high-fliers Llandovery could prove too much after conceding 11 tries at home. The Drovers raced into a 20-0 lead and added seven tries in the second half to ensure they took maximum points.
Scrum-half Rhodri Davies gave the visitors a flying start with two tries, both converted by half-back partner Jack Maynard.Neath’s Aaron Bramwell crossed for a try to give the home fans something to cheer, but it was short-lived as Llandovery hit back through right wing Sam Sole.
And then the visitors piled on the points and the agony after the break. Sole completed a hat-trick with two quick-fire tries early in the half to secure the bonus point while ex-Neath player Richard Rees added more misery to his former club, whose season lurches from bad to worse.
Newport produced a storming second half display to over-power rivals Cardiff in a thrilling encounter at a hostile Rodney Parade. They won 42-24 in what was the 422nd meeting of the two clubs.
The Black and Ambers ran in five tries to maintain their challenge at the top of the table. Newport had the best of the first half’s possession and territory and were the first to score when tight-head prop James Lavender crossed from a rolling maul.
Cardiff only managed two meaningful attacks in the first half, but showed a clinical edge to score from both. Richard Smith crossed after he collected a deft kick from former Wales scrum-half Tavis Knoyle and then Jordan Viggers crossed from a rolling maul.
But it was one-way traffic after that as Newport levelled before half-time through Llywarch ap Myrddin. He collected his subtle chip in the narrowest of spaces before side-stepping his way at the posts.
Newport’s domination was down to their powerful scrum with Lavender holding his own against Cardiff’s experienced international tight-head Craig Mitchell. And on the back of that platform, Jon Morris, Geraint O’Driscoll and Elliott Frewen all crossed in the second half.
Replacement outside half Arwel Robson added 10 points to leave Knoyle’s try on the hour as scant consolation. Newport are now in fourth place, two points behind the leaders, and have two games in hand.
Cross Keys ended a run of two successive home defeats with a convincing, 38-20 bonus-point win over Carmarthen Quins. The five points didn’t move them up the table, but victory certainly keeps them in touch with the five teams above them and they have at least two games in hand on all bar Newport.
The win also secured the double over Carmarthen, who have now slipped to 11th place in the table. Keys were without three keys forwards, Luke Garrett, Scott Andrews and Josh Skinner, but back-row man Ieuan Jones took it upon himself to fill the gaps with a great display.
Jones crossed for a try of his own and was involved in the majority of Keys’ build-up play. Other tries for the home side came through Matt Powell, Darren Hughes, Elliott Jones and there was also a penalty try to add to the Quins’ misery.
There were hopes of a losing bonus-point for the visitors for a while, thanks to two tries from wing Morgan Griffiths and another from Gavin Thomas, but the final home score five minutes from time ended those dreams.
With Llandovery and Ebbw Vale to come in the next two games, both at home, Quins’ hopes of getting out of the Premiership basement in their final five matches could hinge on the outcome of their game at fellow strugglers Bridgend on the last day of the regular season.
Three tries in the final 11 minutes saw Bedwas end Bridgend’s dogged resistance and rack up a 30-0, bonus-point victory. The Gwent side had led just 10-0 with a dozen minutes to play, but replacements Mike Callow, Tom Rowlands and Alun Rees all crossed to add to Joe Davies’ early score.
Full back James Dixon slotted six points with the boot as the hosts remained unbeaten on their own turf since October. The Ravens had secured just one Principality Premiership win on their travels this season and they fell behind in the 10th minute when rangy lock Davies rumbled his way over, with Dixon adding the extras.
But Bridgend fought back, and the remainder of the opening half proved a hard-fought affair, with the next points not arriving until Dixon slotted a penalty two minutes into the second half. However, the game opened up in the closing stages, with centre Callow striking the first blow as he finished off some sharp backline play to dot down.
A few moments later and scrum-half Rowlands showed his nose for the tryline with a poacher’s finish to leave Bedwas one score short of the bonus point. They had one try ruled out for crossing in midfield, but they would not be denied as hooker Rees charged over in the final seconds.
Aberavon came from behind to clinch a thrilling 28-24 win over Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets. The Wizards ran in four tries to clinch a bonus point that keeps them in with the league leaders in the battle for play-off places.
But they had to survive a late Scarlets’ rally when Ryan Davies grabbed his side’s third try. Llanelli edged a tight first half, 8-6, despite going behind early on to an early try by Aberavon hooker Chris Davies from a driving lineout that went unconverted.
Llanelli responded within eight minutes when scrum-half Justin James scurried over and Josh Lewis converted. Aberavon went ahead for the second time early in the second half when Matthew Jenkins scored with Cameron Clement converting after taking over the kicking duties.
Minutes later, Aberavon scored another converted try through Jay Baker. The hosts rallied and made it a six-point game going into the final 20 minutes through Jack Jones.
But Aberavon looked to have put all five match points in the bag whey they crossed three minutes from time. And it proved crucial as Llanelli threatened to stage a late comeback when Ryan Davies touched down in the final moments.
