Week two of Super Rygbi Cymru and it was a successful one for two of Gwent’s three sides.
Ebbw Vale and Newport both enjoyed comprehensive wins at Aberavon and Llandovery respectively, however Pontypool suffered a defeat at home to Bridgend.
There were plenty of impressive performances from Dragons players too with Harry Rees-Weldon earning Seren y Gêm for Ebbw while there were tries for Newport pair Tiehi Chatham and Brogan Lear, Pontypool’s Rhys Cole and a late try from Steelmen hooker James Talamai.
It was a great return for Rees-Weldon following injury. The winger scored a try, set up another and had a try saving tackle to his name in a player of the match display.
Rees-Weldon scored Ebbw’s first try, chipping over the fullback and showing great pace to score following smart work from scrum-half Jon Evans.
Despite his score and another before half-time from fellow wing Dafydd Thomas, the Steelmen trailed at the break 19-12.
However, after the break, Ebbw hooker Ieuan Morris went over at the back of their ever-powerful driving maul before two interception scores from fullback Morgan Rees and wing Thomas turned the game.
Captain Ethan Phillips crashed over from close range before Rees’ second meant that Ebbw had scored 35 unanswered points either side of half-time.
Aberavon fought back to score their fourth try but Ebbw finished on a high as Talamai went over from a driving maul for a 26-52 win.
The six-point win sees Ebbw top the table with a maximum 12 points so far just ahead of Newport who produced a superb display at reigning champions Llandovery.
First half tries from Oli Andrew, Ethan Phillips, Hunter Ward and a Dafydd Buckland brace helped the Black and Ambers to a 12-33 lead at half-time.
Llandovery fought back but late scores from Dragons Academy pair Chatham and Leary sealed a 26-46 win.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a Gwent clean sweep for the second consecutive weekend as a late Pontypool fightback came up short at home to Bridgend.
The Ravens scored six first half tries in Pontypool with the hosts responding through second row Liam Antrobus and captain Scott Matthews and trailed 14-36 at the break.
Scrumhalf Elis Lewis scored early In the second half for Pooler who had further tries for lock Dan hill, fly-half Evan Lloyd and wing Cole late on to get within five points of Bridgend and the most unlikely of comebacks.
However, a last-minute score from the Ravens secured the win and denied Pooler a second bonus point for being within seven points. Full time 38-50.
Next up, Newport host Aberavon at 7.15pm on Friday night with Pontypool kicking off 15 minutes later at Cardiff. Meanwhile, Ebbw Vale are in action on Saturday as they host Rygbi Gogledd Cymru.
Ebbw Vale: Morgan Rees; Harry Rees-Weldon, Ethan Phillips (c), Dom Franchi, Dafydd Thomas; Kai Kinsey, Jon Evans; Luke Garrett, Ieuan Morris, Morgan Bosanko, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Alfred Bateman-Lloyd, Joe Rees-Weldon, Ryan Jenkins.
Replacements: James Talamai, Regan Jones, Adam Williams, Chad Thomas, Ben Main, Gruff Tough, Cam Davies, Devon Shorney.
Newport: Carwyn Penny; Sam Morgan, Brogan Leary, Chay Foster-Smith, Olie Andrew; Will Ford, Dafydd Buckland; Ed Thompson, Wade Langley, Ollie Drake, Ethan Phiillips, Callum Bradbury, Josh Reid, Ben Roach (c).
Replacements: Henry Palmer, Tom Workman, Nathan Davies, Tiehi Chatham, Joe Peard, Lucus Welch, Matt O’Brien, Joe Salter.
Pontypool: Ewan Rosser; Rhys Cole, Joel Mahoney, Connor Edwards, Carrrick McDonough; Evan Lloyd, Ellis Lewis; Jake Wisniewski, Tiaan Hall, Owen Popple, Joe Davies, Liam Antrobus, Scott Matthews (c), Ben Williams, Morgan Allen.
Replacements: Tomoya Adachi, Tom Sims, Scott Crewe, Dan Hill, Ryan Jones, Carter Pritchard, Kieran Neek, Ioan Duggan.
