The six points they picked up in completing the double over the Whites took them clear, although Baldwin was the first to concede there is a long way to go before the prizes are handed out.
“For the first 20 minutes we didn’t get off the line, but we were really good at the end. The most pleasing thing for me as a defence coach was seeing the players not conceding at the death when they were 28 points up,” said Baldwin.
“We said at half-time that Swansea would keep on spreading the ball wide and I wanted us to get up on them and that’s where the interception try came from.”
The Ravens ran in six tries, three in each half, and the old Ponty boys Ryan Wilkins and Ben Burnell orchestrated the back line superbly with Ospreys and Wales U20 centre Tom Florence flourishing alongside them.
Wilkins opened the scoring with a try in the 12th minute try that Burnell improved with one of his four conversions, but Swansea led 10-7 soon after following a try by Matthew Aubrey and a penalty and conversion from his half-back partner Josh Phillips.
That was as good as it got for the visitors, who had been beaten 27-24 at St Helen’s five days earlier, as they were undone by the tenacity of the home defence and the running from deep of man of the match Edd Howley.
Tom Jeavons and Liam Tobias burrowed over for first half tries before Mccauley Rowley picked up the interception try in the opening minute of the second half. With the conversion the lead was stretched to 26-10 and two more tries flowed to ensure Baldwin’s boys picked up the maximum number of points.
Scrum half Chris Williams rounded off an inside burst by Howley and then Travis Huntley rounded off the try of the night to make it a convincing victory.
Chris Williams dives to score
Llandovery will not only open their new 3G pitch at Church Bank this afternoon but also put the new Super Rygbi Cymru Challenge Shield up for grabs in their return fixture against Ebbw Vale.
The Steelmen inflicted a second defeat of the season on Euros Evans’ side last weekend with a 38-29 victory at Eugene Cross Park. That came on top of a 28-23 reverse in Colwyn Bay against RGC in the previous round.
The Drovers were given the SRC Challenge Shield to defend – it is put up by the holders in every home game with the winners taking it home – after their double winning campaign in 2023-24. They won all 15 games in league and cup last season and are unbeaten at Church Bank in 18 games dating back to 10 March 2022 when Aberavon beat them 25-16.
“We aim to hold onto the Shield for as long as we can. We’ve had to wait a while for our first home game because of the laying of our new artificial surface and we will go into the game needing a win,” said Evans.
“Our success in recent seasons has been based on our home form and it’s quite a while since we lost here. We switched training this week to try out the new surface and the players are very pleased with it.
“It should provide a good surface for us to play on and it would be great to get off to a winning start on it. We’re not panicking after two defeats, but the players realise we need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.
“Having the Challenge Shield to defend will add something extra to the occasion and over a period of time it should become a nice addition to each season.”
Evans and his team are getting ready for a double-dose of Gwent action with a trip to Newport next Thursday for a televised re-run of last season’s Indigo Premiership Play-Off final. Newport’s game at Aberavon last week was washed-out before the teams came out for the second half and so they will be hoping for better weather in their return fixture.
The Black & Ambers were leading 3-0 at the break thanks to a Carwyn Parry penalty and will be keen to try to return to the top of the table after Bridgend took over after their big home win over Swansea on Thursday night.
Cardiff will be looking to overturn their 31-19 defeat at Carmarthen Park when they welcome the Quins to the Arms Park. Steff Emanuel gets a run at outside half after stepping into that role from centre last week.
Skipper Tom Phillips misses out for the Quins and lock Lee Taylor will lead the side in his absence. Young Scarlets duo Iestyn Gwlliam and Gabe McDonald continue in the midfield and 39-year-old Aled Thomas will once again pull the strings at No 10.
If the fans at Pontypool Park get another dose of last weekend’s action in the repeat of {Pooler’s clash with RGC then they will certainly be getting their money’s worth. It ended up 61-42 to RGC with 13 tries.
SUPER RYGBI CYMRU – ROUND 4 TEAMS
Cardiff v Carmarthen Quins – Arms Park (2.30pm)
Cardiff: Matty Young; Tom Bowen, Luke Pollock, Jason Harries, Dewi Cross; Steff Emanuel, Ethan Lloyd; Marc Thomas, Gavin Parry, Tom Harper, Ethan Phillips, Sean Moore (captain), Craig Hudd, Nathan Hudd, Aled Ward
Reps: Charlie Manship, Rhys Barratt, Joe Cowell, Evan Rees, Benji Williams, Sion Davies, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Joe GoodchildCarmarthen Quins: Iori Badham; Dylan Richards, Iestyn Gwilliam, Gabe McDonald, Louis Rees; Aled Thomas, Lucca Setaro; Rhys Fawcett, Sion Jones, Connor Allen, Ryan Bean. Lee Taylor, Iestyn Richards, Keanu Evans, Gethin Davies
Reps: James Newnian, Isaac Young, Ifan James, Josh Helps, Iestyn Wood, Lewys Millin, Rhodri Lewis, Eilir George
Llandovery v Ebbw Vale – Church Bank (2.30pm)Llandovery: Jac Davies; Toby Baldwin, Adam Warren, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Steffan Jones, Lee Rees (captain); Dino Dallavalle, Taylor Davies, Berian Watkins, Morgan Jones, Will Evans, Osian Davies, Evan Sheldon, Nathan Hart
Reps: Finn Thomas, Jamie Hughes, Gabriel Hawley, Christian Long, Jordan Evans, Ilan Phillips, Jack Maynard, Ben ThomasEbbw Vale: Matt Jones; Harry Rees-Weldon, Etahn Phillips, Dom Franchi, Ewan Bowden; Evan Lloyd, Jon Evans; Luke Garrett, Joe Franchi (captain), Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Ewan McIntyre, Ben Main, Ryan Jenkins
Reps: Ieuan Morris, Morgan Davies, Owen Hatherill, Jack Pope, Lewis Young, Rory Harries, Josh Malson, Cameron DaviesPontypool v RGC – Pontypool Park (2.30pm)
Pontypool: Jordan Thomas; Ioan Duggan, Joel Mahoney, Amosa Nove, Marcus Jones; Kieran Meek, Matt Flanagan; Kyan Best, Connor Chapman, Owain Jones, Dan Hill, Ieuan Jones, Mikey Herbert (captain), Callum Davies, Morgan Allen
Reps: Sam Cochrane, Lewis Ball, Harry Drane, Buster Bodkin, Adam Stratton, Archie Lloyd, Harri Ford, Pat LewisRGC: Dion Jones; Rhys Tudor, Afon Bagshaw, Danny Cross (captain), Sam Stoddard; Billy McBryde, Connor Dever; Jessie Williams, Rhodri King, Pedr Jones, Tal Taylor Ilan Evans, Dan Owen, Charlie Probert, Sam Williams
Reps: Jac Petch-Jones, Gareth Parry, Pat Nelson, Billy McQueeney, Celt Ffrancis-Roberts, Ethan Fackrell, Tudur Jones, Sam Earl-JonesNewport v Aberavon – Newport Stadium (2.30pm)
Newport: Ioan Davies; Lloyd Lewis, Jonathan Morris, Barney Nightingale, Liam Lloyd; Carwyn Penny, Luke Crane; Tom Workman, Henry Palmer, Nathan Evans, Josh Skinner, Nick Thomas, George Young, Josh Reid, Ben Roach (captain)
Reps: Tyler Olding, Archie Callaghan, Oliver Drake, Joe Peard, Kyle Tayler, Dafydd Buckland, Tom Hughes, Elliot FrewenAberavon: Scott Delnevo; Cori Lewis-Jenkins, Frankie Jones, Sam Jardine, Caine Woolerton; Ed Dunford, Elis Horgan; Rowan Jenkins, Cameron Lewis, Geraint James, Shay Smallman, Lewis Marsh, Rhys Thomas, Ashton Evans, Taine Morgan
Reps: Scott Whitlock, Charlie Thomas, Saul Hurley, Cameron Loveys, James Clegg, Andrew Waite, Dylan James, Morgan James
