The Wizards got off to a slow start in their opening Super Rygbi Cymru fixture against old rivals Bridgend, conceding 17 points in as many minutes without reply through tries from Ben Evans, Ioan Davies and Harvey Nash, with Ben Burnell having converted Davies’ touchdown. However, the entire complexion of the match changed dramatically thereafter, with the home pack increasingly dominant and the backs constantly threatening. 

The Wizards opened their account after 28 minutes with a typical try from Luke Davies following a lineout maul that had driven fully some twenty-plus metres before the Aberavon hooker grounded the ball beneath a heap of bodies. Fly-half Charlie Thomas converted from out wide. Wing Frankie Jones was then denied a try by a foot in touch, but soon afterwards the visitors’ lead was further reduced when a sweeping attack was superbly finished by full-back Morgan Williams, whose acrobatic abilities enabled him to ground the ball one-handed whilst airborne, in the right-hand corner inches from the touchline. Thomas again converted to make the score 14-17 at the interval.

Nine minutes into the second half the Wizards, whose now-dominant pack added something of an air of inevitability to what was now unfolding on the field, went ahead. Another powerful drive from a lineout was this time finished by number eight Ashton Evans, who powered over for a try the lead from the hands of his former club, with the Wizards now leading 19-17.

Frankie Jones, having been denied once, was next to get in on the act, with a long pass from scrum-half Dan Buffrey creating the space for Jones to touch down in the left-hand corner. Thomas’ conversion took the score to 26-17.

Having seized the initiative, the Wizards kept the pressure on, and a further attack down the right-hand touchline saw wing Felix Gilbert regather a Charlie Thomas kick-pass and pave the way for centre Morgan Williams to touch down in the corner. The game was all but over, but there was still time for Frankie Jones to underline the victory by chasing down another Thomas kick into space, regathering and touching down to make the final score 36-17.

Aberavon
Tries: L Davies, M Williams (2), A Evans, F Jones (2)
Conversions: C Thomas (3)

Bridgend
Tries: B Evans, I Davies, H Nash
Conversion: B Burnell