Gareth Turner opened the scoring with a 16th-minute try after a brilliant break by fellow centre David Price. Full-back Darren Miles, who had missed two penalties, converted. Outside-half Sam Mills landed a penalty with his second attempt from under the posts to cut the deficit. While Williams scored his try four minutes after replacing Miles, Pontypool wing Mike Poole had a gift try two minutes after replacing Nathan Daniel. Miles appeared to hesitate in fielding a rolling ball near the corner flag – and Poole dived over.
There was a big win for Glamorgan Wanderers, whose surprise 29-8 victory over Bedwas moved them clear of immediate relegation danger. It brings to an end their four-match losing run, and will give them hope of survival as they move into 2006. Lock Jonathan Luff was driven over for a 21st-minute try while five minutes later defensive errors led to scrum-half Andrew Cawley touching down. Wanderers then rounded off a good half with a 39th-minute corner try from centre Dave Willey, and a second Gareth McCarthy conversion made it 19-3 at the interval. Further Wanderers pressure was rewarded with a McCarthy penalty, but he then missed a more difficult effort.
Bedwas hit back on the hour with an unconverted try from flanker Phil Wheeler only to have hopes hit 10 minutes on. From a maul close to the goal line, the ball was worked out to fly-half McCarthy, who dummied his way over for a try that full-back Stuart Lawrence improved on.
Aberavon outside-half Jamie Davies enjoyed his New Year bank holiday outing as he scored 25 of his side’s 30 points. His side fronted up to the challenge of visiting Maestag, eventually winning 30-13. Davies scored seven of his eight kicks at goal, and added a try for good measure, in a tight match -despite the seemingly rampant scoreline. The first half was a tight and tense affair, but the home side pulled away after the interval as Davies made his mark.
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s Gwent derby, Ebbw Vale gave their battle to avoid relegation from the Welsh Premier another huge boost with a dramatic 28-24 victory over Newport at Eugene Cross Park. The home side began be conceding two early converted tries, but fought back to trail by just three points (11-14) at the interval.
Vale’s Jason Williams then jinked through for a try which he converted after 45 minutes and Vale led 18-14, but within minutes they were reduced to 13 men. First prop Malaga Leota was yellow carded for stopping a quick tapped penalty and then scrum-half replacement Alun Lake followed suit for a foul on opposite number Robert Lewis. Griffiths kicked a penalty for Newport before a miss-move in the centre put wing Will Kershaw-Naylor over for a try, which Griffiths converted. But back came Vale with another Williams penalty and two minutes from time Simon Hunt burst through from full-back for a superb try which Williams converted for a dramatic victory.
