Tense title race enters home straight

THE race for top spot in Division Five West will go down to the wire after leaders Fishguard and Nantgaredig in second both recorded huge wins on Saturday.

Fishguard head their rivals by four points meaning they only need to avoid defeat at St Clears next weekend to finish first.

They battered poor Llangwm 92-3 with 15 tries firmly underlining their intent to hold onto the lead. James Griffiths and Mike Jenkins crossed for hat-tricks, Gavin Walsh scored two tries and Richard Hunter, Dai Evans, Simon James, Gwilyn Evans, Mark George and Rhys Morgan also touched down.

Meanwhile, Nantgaredig were also in imperious form at home against Penygroes, with Huw Harris bagging three tries in a 52-0 hiding.

Mike O’Leary (2), Clinton Morgan (2), Cled Richards, Brian Edmunds and Barry Thomas put their names on the scoresheet and Nant must now beat Pembroke Dock Quins and hope St Clears can do them a big favour.

On a day of high scores, the Quins racked up 64 points as they dished out a trouncing to Pontyates who couldn’t manage any.

There were braces for Rhys Scourfield, Adam Gawley and Paul Jonkers as the visitors were well and truly put to the sword.

Three clubs remain in with a shout of winning Five South East and all of them won at the weekend. Old Illtydians are still at the top, three points ahead of CRC Caerdydd and Cilfynydd.

CRC Caerdydd smashed St Joseph’s 53-19 at home with Sion Horan completing a hat-trick of tries and Dafydd Shermer getting two.

The leaders won handsomely against Deri, 57-7, and Cilfynydd beat Dinas Powys 29-22.

Hafodyrynys won a high-scoring clash against Newport Saracens 35-30 to move onto 106 league points but second-placed Monmouth have plenty of games in hand to claw back the deficit.

In Five South West, Penlan came out on top in the clash between first and second as they breezed past Tycroes 29-0 and just for good measure, Bryncethin, champions of Five South Central, won 23-10 at second-placed Cefn Cribbwr.