Match Report: Aberavon 38 – 14 Pontypool
by Paul Williams

Aberavon secured a ‘double’ over Pontypool with what was by some margin their best all-round performance of the season at a wind-swept Talbot Athletic Ground, picking up two valuable bonus points along the way having scored five tries and recorded a winning margin in excess of fifteen points.

Despite much of the match being played in bright sunshine, the icy west wind dominated conditions, and the Wizards made good use of having it at their backs in the first half, drawing first blood after just one minute’s play when fly-half Keillen Cullen slotted a straightforward penalty.

The Wizards kept up the pressure, although the tricky conditions saw two long-range attempts on goal drift just wide of the posts, but the eighth minute saw the Wizards back division throw caution to the (considerable) wind and start passing the ball swiftly from side to side and back. A clean midfield break then paved the way for scrum-half Scott Whitlock, running the perfect supporting line in his 50th appearance for the Wizards, to accept the inside pass and canter over at the posts for Cullen to add the conversion.

The Wizards continued with the policy of uninhibited running and passing, and it again paid dividends on the half-hour mark as Whitlock was in again with a carbon copy of his earlier try, with Cullen again duly obliging with the conversion. The visitors, meanwhile, were struggling to get out of their own half due largely to the conditions but also due to a determined Aberavon defence.

As half-time approached, the Wizards extended their lead when, almost inevitably, Whitlock completed his hat-trick by racing over in the left-hand corner. However, some inconclusive off-the-ball fisticuffs ensued and Aberavon skipper Brad Roderick, a pillar of experience amid a youthful Aberavon back division, was singled out and shown a red card. Cullen, meanwhile, duly obliged with the conversion of Whitlocks try to make the half-time score 24-nil.

Pontypool were quickly on the offensive after the break, with the unrelenting wind now at their backs, and despite the home defence making life difficult for them they were able to reduce the margin to just ten points with tries from wing Marcus Jones and full-back Ewen Rosser, both converted by Keiron Meek. It turned out to be short-lived relief for the visitors, however, as the Wizards continued in still-uninhibited fashion to make light of the conditions, and sustained pressure on the visitors’ line ended with evergreen number eight Ashton Evans ploughed over near the posts for Cullen to again convert.

To their credit, Pontypool refused to give up, but the Wizards’ defence held firm as they worked hard to prevent further scoring, and the icing on the cake came in the dying moments as ever-reliable full-back Scott Delnevo sliced through midfield to touch down, with Cullen again converting to make the final score 38-14.

The result was all the more remarkable when one considers that the Wizards’ match-day squad contained four teenage debutants in Elis Cox, Cian Evans, Zac Evans and Eli Cowan – well done to all for, particularly Cox, who played havoc with infinitely more experienced opponents at the breakdown, and deservedly getting recognition with the match sponsors’ Man-of-the-Match award.

Date:
Saturday March 28th, 2026

Score:
Aberavon 38 – 14 Pontypool

Aberavon Team:
Scott Delnevo; Frankie Jones, Ethan Bolch (rep Sam Matthews 53 min), Bradley Roderick (capt), Felix Gilbert (rep Cian Evans 79 min); Keillen Cullen, Scott Whitlock (rep Elis Horgan 50 min); Freddie Chapman (rep Jordan Walters 50 min), Saul Hurley (rep Luke Davies 50 min), Geraint James (rep Eli Cowan 63 min), Shay Smallman (rep Lewis Marsh 53 min), James Clegg (rep Zac Evans 76 min), Ben Gregory, Ashton Evans, Elis Cox.

Notes:
Ethan Bolch, Elis Cox, Cian Evans, Zac Evans appeared from the Ospreys; Eli Cowan appeared from Bridgend RFC.
Club debuts for Ethan Bolch, Elis Cox, Cian Evans, Zac Evans & Eli Cowan.
Scott Whitlock and Ben Gregory made their 50th appearance for the club.

Aberavon Scorers:
T – Scott Whitlock (3), Ashton Evans, Scott Delnevo
C – Keillen Cullen (5)
P – Keillen Cullen

Pontypool Scorers:
T – Marcus Jones, Ewan Rosser
C – Kieran Meek (2)

Referee:
Adam Jones

Man Of The Match:
1 – Scott Whitlock
2 – Elis Cox
3 – Ashton Evans

Time Line:
01 min: Aberavon – PG – Keillen Cullen (3 – 0)
08 min: Aberavon – T – Scott Whitlock & C – Keillen Cullen (10 – 0)
30 min: Aberavon – T – Scott Whitlock & C – Keillen Cullen (17 – 0)
40+11 min: Pontypool – Yellow Card – Scott Matthews
40+12 min: Aberavon – T – Scott Whitlock & C – Keillen Cullen (24 – 0)
40+13 min: Aberavon – Red Card – Bradley Roderick
40+15 min: Half Time
46 min: Pontypool – End Yellow Card – Scott Matthews
47 min: Pontypool – T – Marcus Jones & C – Kieran Meek (24 – 7)
52 min: Pontypool – T – Ewan Rosser & C – Kieran Meek (24 – 14)
56 min: Aberavon – T – Ashton Evans & C – Keillen Cullen (31 – 14)
63 min: Pontypool – Yellow Card – Evan Wood
74 min: Pontypool – End Yellow Card – Evan Wood
78 min: Aberavon – T – Scott Delnevo & C – Keillen Cullen (38 – 14)
80 min: Full Time