Ebbw Vale head coach Jason Strange hailed his table-topping Steelmen after they snatched a dramatic late 34-33 victory over Swansea.
A last-gasp try from hooker and hat-trick hero Ieuan Morris settled a bad-tempered affair at Broadacre. It rescued Super Rygbi Cymru leaders Ebbw, who had been staring down the barrel of a third successive league defeat – despite having had a numerical advantage for large parts of this encounter.
“It was an extraordinary game, featuring five yellow cards and one red; given our injuries and suspensions, the team delivered an outstanding performance and secured a crucial victory against a much-improved Swansea side,” said Strange.
Another hat-trick for SRC’s leading try-getter, Morris, took his tally on to 17 for the season. Seven of those have now come against Swansea, having scored four times to inspire a 28-0 win for Ebbw in the reverse fixture.
Having taken an early lead through right wing Liam Lloyd’s unconverted try, the Whites then had back-rower Iwan Shenton red carded after 29 minutes for an off‑the‑ball shoulder challenge after the ruck.
Ebbw outside half Tom Price kicked a penalty and converted Morris’ first try, but the hosts rallied to lead 19-8 at half time courtesy of tries from left wing Lewis Edwards and scrum-half Matthew Aubrey, both converted by Josh Phillips.
However. Swansea’s own ill-discipline would eventually cost them. Yellow cards for prop Kian Hire and full-back Mat Protheroe meant they were reduced to 12 men – and Ebbw seized their chance.
They were awarded a penalty try, before Morris – his second – and centre Cameron Davies dotted down. Two more Price conversions put the visitors 29-19 ahead.
There was then more drama with Ebbw having lock Curtis Gregory and prop Luke Garrett sent to the cooler as Swansea were awarded a penalty try of their own before a Callum Bowden try, converted by Phillips, put the hosts back in front 33-29.
But there was to be yet another twist with another yellow for Swansea – this time replacement Iwan Glynn. Then came a last play penalty awarded to Ebbw which was sent to the corner and Morris finished off from the inevitable catch and drive, finally ending Swansea’s five-match winning league run.
Reigning champions Newport were able to make it six league wins on the spin as they saw off Bridgend Ravens 35-20.
As well as a double bonus point victory, it also marked a successful first defence of the SRC Challenger Shield by the Black & Ambers having wrestled it away from long-time holders Ebbw the weekend before.
Scrum half Dafydd Buckland, No 8 and captain Ben Roach, flanker Kyle Tayler, replacement hooker Henry Palmer and Chay Foster-Smith – playing off the wing – were the five Newport try scorers, all converted by Harrison James.
The Ravens, though, did not leave empty handed. Four unconverted tries earned them a bonus point. Hooker Corey Lewis bagged two with McKenzie Scales and Mccauley Rowley also on the scoresheet.
RGC moved above Carmarthen Quins into sixth place after powering to a 41-23 victory over the west Walians at Parc Eirias.
RGC led through scrum-half Connor Dever’s try, converted by Billy McBryde, but Quins led 13-7 at the break through two unconverted first half tries scored by skipper Lee Taylor and wing Ilan Phillips, in addition to a penalty from Ifan Davies.
But second half tries from McBryde, centre Delwyn Jones, along with wingers Caio Parry and Sam Jones, and replacement Osian Burt secured six points for the Gogs. McBryde added three conversions and a penalty.
Full-back Eilir George and Gabe McDonald also scored for Carmarthen to earn them a bonus point.
Aberavon’s long wait for a win is finally over after they defeated bottom side Pontypool 38-14 in the basement battle at the Talbot Athletic Ground to complete the double over the Gwent men.
Something had to give between these two sides; Pooler had lost their previous 10 league matches on the bounce, while it was eight for the Wizards and 12 defeats in a row, also including the SRC Cup.
But a first half hat-trick from scrum-half Scott Whitlock inspired Aberavon to their first win for almost five months. Their last win actually came in the reverse fixture, 27-24 at Pontypool Park, way back on 30 October.
Keillen Cullen kicked Aberavon ahead with only a minute on the clock and added the extras to all three Whitlock tries as Aberavon took a 24-0 lead into the break. Pontypool responded after the re-start through tries by wing Marcus Jones and full-back Ewan Rosser, both converted by Kieran Meek.
But further Aberavon tries through back-rower Ashton Evans and full-back Scott Delnevo, converted by Cullen, cemented a long-awaited victory – and sent Pooler to their 11th league successive defeat.