MDRFU ROUND-UP

DESPITE there being an international at the Principality Stadium there was plenty of action involving Mid District clubs over the weekend, writes Jamie Willis.

Merthyr hit the summit of the Principality Premiership after a hard fought 32-28 victory over Swansea at the Wern. The Ironmen recorded a bonus-point win thanks to new signing Richard Carter, who scored a brace, with Kyle Evans also crossing to go with the award of a penalty try. Merthyr didn’t get it all their own way and credit must go to Swansea who on this performance will certainly climb off the bottom of the table.

Merthyr will be toasting their Mid District rivals Pontypridd after they defeated former leaders Aberavon 22-11 at Sardis Road. The Valley Commandos showed plenty of heart and commitment to come back from 11-3 down to gain a moraleboosting victory. Ponty scored three excellent tries through Rhys Shellard, Gary Williams and Chris Dicomidis with former Wales international Ceri Sweeney kicking all the extras. This victory sees Pontypridd move up to fourth in the table.

Bargoed will again be kicking themselves after suffering another late defeat on Friday night at Ebbw Vale. The Blues were in the game right until the dying seconds when injuries and discipline cost them dearly along with the awarding of a penalty try. A try from wing David Evans and a penalty from James Hallett was not enough for the Rhymney Valley outfit as the champions secured a 17-8 win.

In the Championship, Beddau returned to winning ways with a 33-16 win over a battling Dunvant at Mount Pleasant Park. The Green and Golds grabbed a bonus point thanks to tries from Callum Wheeler, Tyler Wells, Robert Jones and Joe Casella. They were also awarded a penalty try with the prolific Hywel Chatham slotting four of the conversions.

Bedlinog also bounced back after a defeat last time out with an impressive 36-12 success at Cardiff Met. The first half was a very tight affair with the Foxes edging the game by 12-5 but they opened up in the second half to record a bonus-point win which keeps them in a good fifth place in the table.

In the National One East, Rhydyfelin show no sign of taking their foot off the pedal at the top of the table as they recorded a big 58-7 win over Risca at the Hawthorn Recreation ground. The Taff Ely side scored 10 tries in total with braces for Ross Lucas and Kieron Phillips with individual efforts for Luke Rees, Sam Studley, Dai Gratton, Kevin Briggs, Lewis Smith and Mark Tyler.

Nelson though will not let their Mid District rivals pull away at the top as they too picked up an impressive bonus-point win at Brynmawr. The Unicorns’ 34-14 win at the Gwent club means that they are still just a point off the top but have played a game more than the leaders.

Penallta were given a tough game by Caerleon at Ystrad Mynach before finally pulling away to claim a 22-10 victory. The Pitmen were trailing 10-5 at half-time before eventually grabbing a bonus point thanks to tries from Elliot Keep, Lewis Barnett, Matthew Angel and captain Ross Morgan. Penallta stay in third place and just two points off the top.

Despite a big 51-18 win over Blaenavon, Ynysybwl remain in fourth place. The Bwl were in rampaging form securing the bonus point in a convincing victory at their Recreation Ground.

The basement battle between Senghenydd and Nantyglo was postponed at the request of the Gwent Valley Club on Saturday morning.

In National One East Central, Treorchy remain unbeaten and at the top of the table after a nervy 35-28 win at Heol Y Cyw. The bonus-point victory means that the Zebras are now nine points clear at the top of the table.

Mountain Ash move up to second in the table after recording a 24-13 victory at Cardiff Quins. The Old Firm hold a game in hand over the leaders and are certainly in the mix for a promotion push.

Dowlais suffered only their second loss of the season as St Josephs left Klondyke with a 37-27 win. The loss for the Dragons mean that they drop out of the top two for the first time in the season and lie in third spot joint on points with secondplaced Mountain Ash.

Ystrad Rhondda stay in fourth place in the table as they convincingly took the spoils at Rumney. The Rhondda men grabbed a bonus-point 26-0 win which leaves them just 10 points adrift of top spot.

In the all Mid District affair at Porth Harlequins, the home team put on a superb second-half performance to brush aside a battling Llantwit Fardre outfit. It was 20-19 to the Quins at the interval but the visitors were not to get any more points in the last 40 minutes as the home team secured a bonus point and a 53-19 win. The win means that the Rhondda club move up to eighth in the table whilst Llantwit stay in bot- tom spot and seven points from safety.

In National Two East Central, despite a 21-5 win over their fellow Mid District Club Abercynon, Llantrisant dropped to second in the table as Dinas Powys rattled up a big win over Pontyclun. The Black Army do have a game in hand over Dinas and are only a point behind. Abercynon slip down the table to eighth place.

Aberdare will be a little disappointed to have let St Peters take their unbeaten home record off them as the Cardiff club took the points with a hard-fought 16-3 win at the Ynys. With results going against them the Snakes drop down to fifth place.

Gilfach Goch recorded a second successive win for the first time this season with a well-deserved 33-11 win over Llanishen at the Welfare Ground. The Gowch jump over their visitors in the table and into a solid mid-table place.

In National Three East Central A, something had to give at the Tump as unbeaten Cambrian Welfare and Cilfynydd went toe to toe. In a hugely entertaining and tight affair it was the home team who just edged the game by 22-21 to leapfrog their visitors in the table. The Miners now lead the table by three points.

Abercwmboi were in rampant form on Thursday as they proved they shouldn’t be counted out of a second successive promotion push. The Village were too strong for Ynysowen with a 52-10 victory. The Cynon Valley Club stay in third spot and are eight points off the leaders whilst Ynys remain in the bottom two.

Treharris continued their excellent start to the season with a fourth win in five games at last season’s Division Three champions Taffs Well. The Phoenix left the East District club with a 26-7 win which means they remain in fifth place but with three games in hand over the top clubs in the table.

In National Three East Central B, Cefn Coed kept their place at the top of the table and did it in some style as they brushed aside Cardiff Saracens outfit in the Merthyr Valley. The Wolves go seven points clear at the top of the table after the resounding 52-3 win.

In the battle of the Rhondda clubs it was Penygraig who took the bragging rights with a very tight 13-5 win over near neighbours Tylorstown at Graig Park. The win sends Penygraig up to third in the table whilst the Tigers drop down to seventh in the ladder.

Tonyrefail could not get anything out of their trip to the Vale as Cowbridge proved to be a little bit better on the day claiming a 27-14 triumph. Tonyrefail slip down to ninth in the table after this reverse.

Wattstown’s home game with St Albans was postponed.

In National Three East Central C, there were excellent wins for both Ferndale and Hirwaun. Ferndale moved to top of the table with a fifth consecutive maximum points win at Cathays. The 43-7 win means that the Rhondda club go four points clear at the top with a game in hand over second place.

Hirwaun too were in good form recording a 27-0 home win over Whitchurch which sees them climb up the table and into fourth place and just a win off second spot.

In National Three East A, Caerphilly really put on a display for their home supporters as they defeated Usk 67-15. Former Pontypridd back Matthew Nuttall scored and orchestrated things for the Cheesemen who also had tries scored from the impressive Matthew Hurley and brothers Ben and Tom Candy.

In National Three East C, Deri were another side who recorded an impressive win as they left Malpas with a deserved 38-3 victory.

The Broncos are up to fifth place and just six points behind leaders Markham who they have a game in hand over.