Cardiff, last season’s regular Super Rygbi Cymru season table-toppers, left it late, but eventually came from behind to seal a 27-17 bonus-point win at Carmarthen Quins.
Tries in the final minutes from full-back Matty Young and wing Dewi Cross ensured the Blue & Blacks – who are celebrating their 150th anniversary season – returned from west Wales with five points.
They would have been wary of the challenge posed by Quins, who defeated them at the Arms Park in round two last season, and found themselves 14-0 down inside half an hour courtesy of tries for the Quins from No 8 Lewis Millin and centre Ashton Owen, both converted by Madoc Evans.
Cardiff, though, hit back and by half time had reduced the deficit to 14-12 after first hooker Alun Rees, converted by Ben Coomer, and then Young dotted down.
Evans and Cardiff replacement kicker Sonny Greenman traded penalties after the re-start, as Quins led 17-15, and that was the way it stayed until eight minutes from time when Young scored his second try to put the visitors ahead for the first time in the match, Greenman converting.
Cross made the game safe on 78 minutes after good work on the break in the build up from Young and centre Tom Williams when he ran in his 59th try in 85 games for the club, and his 52nd in 80 league and cup matches.
Ebbw Vale opened the new season with six points after a thoroughly convincing 40-12 win over last season’s surprise package, Swansea. Jason Strange’s side held a narrow 14-12 lead at the turnaround, but four tries and 26 unanswered second half points sealed a dominant opening win for Ebbw.
Ethan Phillips, standing in as captain for Sion Parry while he is away on international duty with Canada, lock Dylan Bartlett and wings Ewan Bowden and Dafydd Thomas all scored in the second half for the hosts.
That followed on from tries in the first half from hooker Ieuan Morris – SRC’s leading try scorer last season – and full-back Morgan Rees. Outside half Kai Kinsey converted five of their six tries.
Swansea had taken an early lead through centre Joe Thomas who, at 30, is also the youngest head coach in SRC. Josh Phillips missed the conversion but did add the extras to full-back Mat Protheroe’s try that had earlier briefly put Swansea ahead for a second time in the first half.
Aberavon, who are also celebrating their 150th anniversary season, came back from 17-0 down to run out 36-17 winners over Ospreylian rivals Bridgend Ravens.
The visitors scored a point a minute in a blistering opening 17 minutes, scoring tries through wing Ben Evans, flanker Ioan Davies and scrum half Harvey Nash. Ben Burnell converted Davies’ try.
Aberavon responded before the break-through hooker Luke Davies and full back Morgan Williams, both converted by Charlie Thomas.
But then it was all Aberavon in the second half. No 8 Ashton Evans, wing Frankie Jones – twice – and centre Garyn Smith earned them the bragging rights. Thomas added another conversion.