Pontypool beat champions Llandovery in SRC thriller

Fly-half Evan Lloyd kicked a 78th-minute penalty as Pontypool stunned Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) champions Llandovery 43-41 in a thrilling opening fixture.

Pooler, who finished bottom in 2025-26, edged a 13-try encounter in Torfaen thanks to the only three-pointer of a chaotic game.

The tone for a manic eight-try first half was set when fly-half Sam Potter finished off a searing Drovers break in the second minute, putting them into a lead that would change hands a further seven times.

Aided by errors and sloppy defence, the visitors went over four more times to earn a 29-19 lead at the break, with flanker Tom Curry, Potter, scrum-half Rhodri Lewis and wing Llien Morgan scoring.

Pooler stayed in the fight thanks to efforts by combative flanker Scott Matthews, wing Rhys Cole and lock Liam Antrobus.

The tries kept coming at both ends in a chaotic and engaging encounter, with flanker Ben Williams, full-back Ewan Rosser and Antrobus crossing for Pooler and prop Jamie Hughes and Morgan for the Drovers.

Yet after all the tries, the telling blow came from the kicking tee, with Lloyd making no mistake to be the match-winner on his first outing since a summer switch from Gwent rivals Ebbw Vale.

Aberavon 36-17 Bridgend: The Wizards dominated the second half after going into the break trailing 17-15. Hooker Luke Davies, full-back Morgan Williams, number eight Ashton Evans, wing Frankie Jones (2) and centre Garyn Smith earned a six-point haul. Wing Ben Evans, flanker Ioan Rhys Davies and scrum-half Harvey Nash went over for the Ravens, but they endured a pointless second half.

Carmarthen Quins 17-27 Cardiff: The Blue and Blacks started with a win in west Wales, with wing Dewi Cross earned a late four-try bonus point. Full-back Matty Young (2) and hooker Alun Rees also went over as the Arms Park side turned around a 14-12 half-time deficit.

Ebbw Vale 40-12 Swansea: Last season's runners-up started with a comfortable win with a pair of bonus points against Swansea. Hooker Ieuan Morris, full-back Morgan Rees, centre Ethan Phillips, lock Dylan Bartlett, fly-half Ewan Bowden and wing Dafydd Thomas scored tries at Eugene Cross Park.

Newport 34-25 RGC: The Black and Ambers defended the SRC Challenger Shield with a home victory courtesy of tries by wing Sam Morgan, centre Chay Foster-Smith, lock Ethan Phillips, wing Fin Baker and hooker Henry Palmer. They were denied a six-point haul by number eight Sam Williams' second try late on, but the spirited north Walians left without anything to show for their efforts.

Super Rygbi Cymru table; Super Rygbi Cymru results and fixtures