Ebbw and Bargoed maintain title charge

MATCHES involving the Championship’s top two aside, yesterday saw some real nail-biting encounters with losing margins in the five remaining games totalling just 17 points.

Right at the bottom, Whitland were on the wrong end of a 9-6 defeat at Bonymaen as Richard Cuniffe outkicked Nico Setaro three penalties to two.

However, the closest finish of the day came in West Wales where hosts Narberth overcame Llanharan 15-14 – the visitors could easily have won it had they not missed a couple of kicks at goal.

Narberth led through a James Reynolds penalty before Adrian Killa crossed on 10 minutes. Bill Carey replied in kind and Lewis Williams added the extras to make it 8-7 at the break.

A try each in the second-half, Prop John Lloyd for Narberth and wing Morgan Williams for Llanharan, both converted, ensured the hosts clung on to their slender lead.

Pontypool led Glamorgan Wanderers 10-7 after 40 minutes of their clash but fly-half Ianto Griffiths proved the difference between the sides as he converted his own try and landed a penalty to win it for Wanderers.

Full-back Ed Doe scored their first while flanker Adam Brake did the same for Pooler with Clayton Gullis putting over a conversion and two penalties.

Tata Steel outscored Cardiff Met by two tries to one but it was the students who came out on top 16-13 with Mark O’Brien contributing 11 points. Brynley Thomas got the Met’s try with Gbemi Fisher and Ben Davies crossing for Tata.

Mark McGovern, Chris James and Shaun Emery went over for Blackwood in their 20-24 success at home to Beddau. Lewis Hudd kicked a penalty and one conversion too. The visitors picked up a losing bonus point thanks to Tom Benjamin’s penalty treble and Luke Crocker’s touchdown.

While all that was going on, leaders Ebbw Vale and second-placed Bargoed were both cruising to comfortable wins at home to Bridgend Athletic and away at Newbridge respectively.

Eight different players scored tries for Ebbw, who were also awarded a penalty try, with Charlie Simpson, Wes Cunliffe, Josh Lewis, Adam Jones, Dan Haymond, Cameron Reagan, Chris Thomas and Polu Uhi crossing.

Fly-half Haymond not only scored but found the target with all nine conversions in the 63-3 rout.

Bargoed, however, were given a big helping hand during their 43-18 defeat of Newbridge as home prop Mark Cox was sent-off for fisticuffs on the stroke of half-time with his side trailing 19-11.

The Blues piled on the pressure after that and their seven scores came courtesy of Andrew MacLaughlan (2), Lewis Protheroe, James Pizey, Jordan Purcell, Adam Coupe and Alex Herbert.

Ceri Young and Neil Burnett replied for Newbridge who stay third in the table, nine points behind Bargoed.