Pontypridd and Merthyr maintained their 100 per cent in the Principality Premiership this week, after securing bonus wins over Llanelli and Bedwas, but Cardiff are still looking for their first win of the season after disappointment at Llandovery.
Pontypridd RFC 43 Llanelli RFC 0
Following an impressive win at Bedwas on the opening day, Pontypridd went into their first home game of the season with momentum.
It took only five minutes for experienced back row, Rhys Shellard, to open the scoring, powering over from close range.
Dale Stuckey made no mistakes with the conversion, and was back at the tee moments later, after a quick tap saw Morgan Sieniawski slice through for the hosts’ second of the afternoon.
Despite Dafydd Lockyer being held up, Pontypridd did cross for a third try, with Stuckey this time displaying his fine finishing ability in the corner, before Alex Knott secured Ponty with a bonus point, with only half an hour on the clock.
In the second half, Stuckey intercepted to dot down for his second of the afternoon, before a late brace for jet-heeled wing Alex Webber rubbed salt into the wounds of Llanelli.
Justin Brunell’s side face a trip to the Talbot Athletic Ground next week, where they will face Aberavon.
Merthyr RFC 27 Bedwas RFC 7
The Ironmen welcomed Bedwas to the Wern for their first home game of the season, fresh from a last gasp win over rivals Cardiff at the Arms Park a week earlier.
Lewis Williams opened the scoring for the hosts, and found himself crossing the whitewash for a second time four minutes later, after a fine break from scrum half Justin James.
Former Cardiff Blues academy number eight, James Sheekey, struck back for the visitors, but Williams secured his hat-trick to extend his side’s lead to 21-7, following more fine work from James.
Rhys Williams secured the bonus point for the hosts before the interval, but there were no further tries in this fixture, as a Josh Martin penalty proved to be the only points scored in the second half.
A trip to Parc y Scarlets is next on the cards for Merthyr, as they face Llanelli on Saturday.
Llandovery RFC 20 Cardiff RFC 3
Cardiff RFC suffered a second consecutive loss on Saturday, as they visited Llandovery’s Church Bank.
Following two unsuccessful penalty attempts for the visitors, the Drovers finally got the scoreboard ticking after a series of close-range scrum infringements saw the referee losing patience - awarding the hosts a penalty try.
Steffan Jones struck a penalty before half time, but former Cardiff outside half, Jack Maynard regained the seven-point lead with a penalty of his own.
Maynard then turned creator, as he opened up space for Joe Powell to cross for Llandovery’s second try of the afternoon. The outside half converted, before putting the result out of sight with his second penalty.
The Blue and Blacks welcome the Amber and Blacks - Newport RFC - to the Arms Park next week.