Abertillery win Division Three East title

Abertillery BG hoisted the  Division Three East title aloft after a 42-5 victory over near neighbours Pontypool United on Saturday.

The squad have only lost once during the campaign – with that defeat coming during the first game of the season against the same opponents.

Top points scorer Chris Stevens, who only took over kicking duties in October, added to his existing tally of 177 points during the title-winning match, and winger Aled Penn, the club’s top try scorer, also added to his tally with a hat-trick to take him to 23 with three games still remaining.

The club has seen a remarkable rise since reforming in 2004 following the collapse of Abertillery RFC. Starting afresh in the league’s bottom division for the 2004/05 campaign, Abertillery Blaenau Gwent have since worked their way up to Division 3 East with a squad boasting its club’s youth and junior products.

Abertillery captain Luke Pegler on the attack against Pontypool United

Team manager Gareth Pitman said: “Throughout this season it’s come down to a collective performance. We’re extremely lucky to have a local group of talented youngsters at our disposal and a good youth set-up coming through.

"We’ve added a sprinkling of senior players like (former Ospreys and Dragons fly half) Shaun Connor, who has had a major influence on the squad this season.”

Captain and scrum half Luke Pegler added: “Winning Division 3 East is a massive achievement for everyone involved. Our success has come down to good coaching, good work ethic and commitment in training and a great camaraderie amongst the squad.

"Abertillery RFC were playing top flight rugby not so long ago, and we’re slowly creeping our way back. The whole town has got behind the team throughout the season and it’s great to be able to reward them with the division title."