Super Rygbi Cymru: Pontypool stun champions Llandovery

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.