Despite having two players sent to the sin bin in the second half, Keys eventually hit the front for the first time on 58 minutes when Scott Matthews crossed for his side’s second try. From there they never looked back and all that Cardiff emerge with was a losing bonus point. Lloyd Lewis and James Leadbeater were the other try scorers for Keys.
Jones out-gunned home goal kicker Dean Gunter 5-4 in the penalty stakes and 2-1 in conversions while Keys also outscored the Blue and Blacks 3-2 in tries. Everything started well for the home side when Mike Stephens scored after only a minute, but they had to wait another 70 before Ieaun Jones grabbed the second.
Newport marched up to North Gwent where they notched their first win of the season with a 25-22 win over previously unbeaten Ebbw Vale. Twice the home side hit the front, but the boot of Geraint O’Driscoll proved the difference between the two teams as he kicked five penalties and added a conversion for a match tally of 17 points. There was also a third-minute try by wing Johnathan Morris and a drop-goal from centre Jamie Murphy.
There was at least a losing bonus point to console Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange, who’s side ran-in two tries and had four penalties. And had Ian Smerdon landed a late penalty, there could have been a share of the spoils.
Reigning champions Pontypridd moved back to the top of the table thanks to a 27-17 home win over Bridgend.
The visitors led 10-5 at the break as they threw down the gauntlet to last season’s all conquering side.
James Dixon and Thomas O’Flaherty (2) crossed for the Ravens tries and Dixon added a conversion, but Pontypridd kept their cool despite only having an Owen Shephard try to show for their efforts in the first half. Three more flowed after the break from Simon Humberstone and Dafydd Lockyer while scrum-half Lloyd Williams punched in injury time for the vital fourth that clinched the bonus point.
Aberavon gained their first won of the season with a 31-24 triumph at Bedwas. The Wizards led 21-10 at the break thanks to tries from back-row Nathan Brown and new wing Kristian Corbisiero. Outside-half Nic Damjamovic then added an interception try to help extend the lead to 31-10 before the home side came racing back into the contest.
Lock Phil Rees and replacement scrum-half Luke Crane raced over for two tries for Bedwas which replacement outside half Jack Maynard converted to cut the gap to a mere seven points to set po a thrilling final 17 minutes.
Carmarthen Quins made it three out of three as they beat Llanelli 30-26. There were two tries from Gavin Thomas and a third from Dylan Morgan for the home side, with Daniel Jones kicking 15 points.
Llanelli had 11 points from the boot of Josh Lewis, while Jordan Williams crossed for a try and kicked a penalty and conversion. Wing Josh Adams added a first-half try to complete their scoring.
Llandovery ran-in five tries in a 35-18 at The Gnoll against Neath to maintain their good start to the season. Scarlets wing Kristian Phillips ran-in two tries an the visitors triumphed despite having three players sent to the sin-bin. No. 8 Richard Brooks, wing Sam Soul and scrum-half Lee Rees were the other try scorers for the Drovers, while Neath, who also had two players yellow carded had tries from Ospreys wing Aisea Natoga and hooker Scott Otten.
