Ebbw Vale won a nail-biter at the grand opening of St Helen’s but there were defeats for Newport and Pontypool in the weekend’s Super Rygbi Cymru action.
The Steelmen trailed 26-10 soon after half-time but fought back with Dragon Cai Evans kicking the winning penalty with around 10 minutes to go.
In the end it was a hard-fought, but much needed five points from Ebbw who bounced back from last weekend’s defeat, getting their four tries through Ryan Jenkins, a Ieuan Morris brace and a try for replacement prop Morgan Bosanko, while Evans kicked seven points.
Along with Evans, fellow Dragons player Regan Jones made an appearance off the bench, while Ebbw winger Ewan Bowden made his 50th appearance for the Steelmen.
Elsewhere, Pontypool suffered a defeat at Llandovery. Having led with a quarter of an hour remaining, the Drovers eventually pulled away to win 31-15 at Church Bank.
Pooler’s tries came through wing Carrick McDonough and lock Liam Antrobus while captain Kieran Meek kicked five points.
The game also saw Dragons scrum-half Morgan Lloyd partner brother Evan at halfback for the first time in half a decade while Dragons George Tuckley, Sam Scarfe, Owain James, Ryan Jones, Tiaan Hall and Rhys Cole were all involved in the matchday squad.
Newport scored four tries in their 65-28 defeat at RGC to end their unbeaten run so far this season. The Black and Ambers had led early on through centre Joe Westwood’s try and fellow Dragon Will Ford’s conversion.
Further tries came through Fin Baker, Ed Thompson and Chay Foster-Smith with Ford converting four kicks from four.
Hooker Wade Langley won his 50th cap for the Black and Ambers who also had Dragons Tiehi Chatham, Sam Morgan, Nathan Davies and Cerrig Smith along with Westwood and Ford within their matchday squad.
The weekend’s results mean that for the first time this season a Gwent side doesn’t hold top spot in the SRC, with Newport now second and Ebbw third behind frontrunners Cardiff.
Next up on Saturday, Newport and Ebbw host Llandovery and Aberavon respectively, while Pooler travel to Bridgend.
Ebbw Vale: Devon Shorney; Ewan Bowden, Ethan Phillips (c), Cam Davies, Morgan Rees; Cai Evans, Gruff Tough; Luke Garrett, Ieuan Morris, Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Ben Main, Joe Rees-Weldon, Ryan Jenkins.
Replacements: Liam Lewis, Regan Jones, Morgan Bosanko, Chad Thomas, Dylan Burrows, Jon Evans, Tom Howard, Dylan Edwards.
Pontypool: Ellis Davies; Carrick McDonough, Pat Lewis, Kieran Meek (c), Marcus Jones; Evan Lloyd, Morgan Lloyd; George Tuckley, Sam Scarfe, Owain James, Joe Davies, Liam Antrobus, Dan Hill, Ryan Jones, Ben Williams.
Replacements: Tiaan Hall, Tom Sims, Harri Rock, Lance Randall, Luke Daniel, Ellis Lewis, Joel Mahoney, Rhys Cole.
Newport: Steff Davies; Sam Morgan, Chay Foster-Smith, Joe Westwood, Fin Baker; Will Ford, Dafydd Buckland; Tom Devine, Wade Langley, Garin Harris, Josh Skinner, Callum Bradbury, Josh Reid, Tiehi Chatham, Ben Roach (c).
Replacements: Henry Palmer, Ed Thompson, Nathan Davies, Cerrig Smith, Hunter Ward, Kobi Rees, Lucus Welch, Joe Salter.
