ABERAVON FIGHTING IRISH, who were 16-0 up after as many minutes at Irish outfit BANBRIDGE BRONCOS and 28-6 ahead as the interval beckoned, repelled a rousing rally to return to Wales reflecting on a 32-26 triumph – and on a second-round tie at Midlands Hurricanes.

Connor O’Callaghan, Rhys Evans and Jack Davies raced over in Aberavon’s impressive start and, after Jon Sturgeon had hit back for the Broncos, Ieaun Allen and Owen Thomas dotted down and Sean Waldeck fired his fourth goal to help establish a 22-point cushion.

Pulusi Toeoanna sparked Banbridge’s stunning recovery a minute before half-time, and that score was followed by a second Toeoanna touchdown and one by Wayne Kelly, Jonny Dunlop’s third goal reducing the deficit to only six points.

Waldeck swept over on 64 minutes to give the visitors a ten-point cushion, and it was needed when Matthew Coulter crossed for the hosts some six minutes later. But Aberavon held out in a tense finale.

BEDFORD TIGERS will travel to North Wales Crusaders at the next stage after recovering from 6-4 adrift in the early stages to account for London League side MEDWAY DRAGONS 36-6.

The National Conference Southern side opened with an unconverted try for Callum Dockerill, only for the Dragons to nose in front when Eddie Salter popped over on twelve minutes and Nick Hardinges added the extras.

Medway’s lead was short-lived, however. Touchdowns by Lewis Swindells and Jack Saunders, the first converted by Jack Brown, earned Bedford a 14-6 advantage which remained intact by the break, despite Josh Hudson-Lett copping a yellow card on 34 minutes for shoving.

Bailey Thomas and Hudson-Lett snared tries by the hour to stretch the home side’s cushion to 18 points. 

And although Dockerill was sin-binned on 64 minutes for tripping, further tries were registered in his absence – by Henry Higginson and Hudson-Lett – both of which Brown improved in a four-goal contribution.