Premier Wales Round 5 round-up

Swansea Valley Miners 12-38 Bridgend Blue Bulls

Bridgend Blue Bulls were forced to work hard for their 38-12 victory against Swansea Valley Miners.

It was a much improved Miners side to the one that lost to Newport two weeks ago, but after Carle Ellis scored in the fifth minute there was no looking back for defending champions the Bulls.

Lloyd Paget added two tries, the second after an excellent break from Stuart Coles, with Grant Epton and Jon Williams also going over before half-time for the visitors.

The Miners finally got on the scoresheet when Chris Beck ran over and Simon Bevan converted, leaving them trailing 26-6 at the break.

The second half was a tighter affair with just three tries being scored - Epton with two more for Bridgend and Steve John for Swansea.

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Cardiff Demons 30-31 Valley Cougars

Grit and determination from Valley Cougars coupled with a series of handing errors by Cardiff Demons gave the Pontypridd side a valuable 31-30 win at Taff¿s Well.

Lewis Francis powered in under the posts to give Cardiff the lead in the ninth minute.

Chris Holland replied for the Cougars in the 16th and Rhodri Morris added another just two minutes later to put the Cougars 8-6 up.

Adam King ran in to give the Demons the advantage but, following a Lee Mullane knock-on, Morris ran in for his second to make it 10-14 to the visitors.

Demons player-coach Anthony Loxton levelled the scores with a try in the corner, but Holland then gave the Cougars a one-point advantage with a field goal.

But it was Cardiff who went in with a slender 18-15 half-time lead after a Jamie Iles try in the corner.

Neil Thomas marked his first game back for the Demons this season with the opening try of the second half, Lee Mullane converting.

A period of immense pressure by the Cougars was finally rewarded with a Ryan Jenkins try, leaving the visitors just 24-19 behind.

Pete Gooding was sin-binned for dissent on the hour and Cougars took advantage as Adrian Owen ran in for a try. Karl Thomas converted to give them a slender 24-25 lead.

Dave Murphy looked to have wrapped it up for the Cougars with a try under the posts.

Thomas Berrell gave Demons hope, scoring with just seconds remaining but it was not quite enough.

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Aberavon Fighting Irish 38-34 Torfaen Tigers

Aberavon Fighting Irish moved up to joint second in the table with Newport after winning a dramatic match at home to Torfaen Tigers.

Honours were even in a see-saw first half after both sides ran in three tries.

Scott O'Kelly got a brace for Aberavon and Rick Johns added an excellent individual effort.

Matt Entwhistle, Damien Hudd and Nolan Nicklen were Torfaen's scorers.

But after the break the Fighting Irish blitzed their visitors with a four-try burst as Daniel Phillips, Simon Bailey, Robert Hills and Lee Williams all ran over, giving them a 20-point advantage.

However, tries from Gareth Jenkins, Jamie Juene and David Davies put Torfaen to within four points to set up a grandstand finish.

But time had run out for the Tigers and Aberavon held out.

"We seem to be making a habit of excellent second-half performances," said Aberavon coach Chris O'Callaghan.

"But if that's what wins us matches, then I'm not complaining.

"I was very pleased with this performance and we're now in contention for the play-offs once again."