It meant Llandovery’s lead at the top of the West Division was cut to five points, although RGC1404 failed to make the most of what happened at Aberavon because they could only draw at Swansea. They are now five a points behind the league leaders with the Wizards now in third a point further back.
The Drovers had done well to get back into a position to win the game after falling 10 points behind in the first half and then losing prop Greg Cunliffe to a red card 10 minutes into the second half. It was their first defeat in five games, but at least head coach Euros Evans had a losing bonus point to take home with him.
He also had two first half tries from Wales Under 18 full back Tomi Lewis to savour. The former Llandovery College pupil showed off his great talent by running in tries in the 17th and 32nd minutes.
That allowed the West Division leaders to go into the break 14-10 ahead having conceded an early penalty to home skipper James Garland and a superb individual try from centre Rheon James that Garland also improved.
Garland then added a second penalty a minute after the re-start and then helped to hoist his side into what proved to be a winning lead when centre Joe Thomas crossed for a second try for the Wizards six minutes after Cunliffe’s departure.
Then came the last gasp effort from former Wales World Cup Sevens star Williams in the corner that gave Jones his shot at glory.
Bridgend almost timed their second half revival to perfection, but ultimately fell just short in a 30-28 defeat at Carmarthen Quins.
The Quins, who made it two wins in a row at The Park after three successive away games, were thankful in the end for the trusty boot of Scarlets outside half Dan Jones, who helped himself to 13 points. His two penalties in succession in the final quarter gave his side enough breathing space to hold on for victory.
The Quins pack muscled up a 14 point lead with a penalty try from a driving maul that was hauled down illegally and then another driving maul try that was credited to prop Steff Thomas. Jones converted the latter before Dylan Moss read a home back line move and intercepted to race to the posts for a try that Cai Evans improved to make it 14-7 at the break.
Jones kicked his first penalty three minutes after the re-start and then added the extras to a try five minutes later by wing Morgan Howells. That made it 24-7 to the home side and they looked very comfortable.
On the hour an Aaron Grabham break paved the way for Moss’ second try and five minutes later the Ospreys centre Owen Watkin raced over. Evans converted both scores to make it a three point game.
Jones’ two penalties then stretched the lead before Owen Lloyd crashed over in the corner in the 80th minute. Ryan Evans kicked the touchline conversion, but it was too little, too late.
The honours were shared at St Helen’s, where home side Swansea held RGC 1404 to a 16-16 draw. In what was an extremely scrappy first half the main talking point was a red card for Swansea hooker Ashley James, who was given his marching orders after punching.
RGC 1404 got the game’s first try when centre Tom Hughes powered his way over from short range. With the All Whites a man down, their pack showed some real backbone to stay in the game and were rewarded when blindside flanker Morgan Morris touched down after a powerful driving maul.
That try was converted by Owen Howe to give Swansea a 7-5 interval lead. Howe extended the home side’s lead at the start of the second period with two penalty kicks before Hughes scored his second after some lovely interplay with full back Dion Jones and replacement scrum half Cam Davies.
There was a nail biting final 10 minutes for the fans to savour as RGC 1404 outside half Jacob Botica put the visitors ahead with moments to go and must have thought that they had finally broken an extremely brave
Swansea side. But despite being a man down the hosts never gave up with Howe knocking over a penalty at the death to secure a creditable draw for the All Whites.
Llanelli ran in five tries as they notched a 40-17, bonus-point victory at Neath. Ioan Hughes, Ioan Nicholas twice, Ryan Conbeer and Oli Reyland scored the tries for the visitors.
It was Hughes who grabbed the opening score with a break from the 22 metre line which Billy McBryde converted. McBryde soon extended the visitors’ lead with a penalty before Nicholas put Llanelli 20-0 ahead after finishing off a well worked try in the corner.
Former Blues and Scarlets winger Richard Smith gave the home side some hope after crashing over from short range, but Llanelli led 23-7 at the break. Wales U20 speedster Conbeer scored Llanelli’s third try with a blistering run down the touchline.
Outside centre Reyland then got in on the act securing the bonus point try for the visitors after an impressive backs move which McBryde again converted. With Neath fighting hard to regain some respect, Nicholas pinched his second try after intercepting from distance and touching down underneath at the posts.
Kieran Williams and Elis Hopkins grabbed consolation tries for Neath but the home side had been comprehensively outplayed by the West Walians.
