Three chasing final play-off spot in nervy countdown
IT looks like being a three-way shootout for the final play-off place in the Indigo Premiership – but it’s the end of the road for another side.
Newport and Llandovery are already in the play-offs, with the double-chasing Drovers needing just a point to join the Black and Ambers in securing a home semi-final.
Ebbw Vale, in third on 76 points, need just one more point from their remaining three fixtures to cement a place-off spot.
That leaves Cardiff, Pontypool and cup finalists Merthyr to battle it out.
Cardiff are currently in the box seat as they sit fourth on 68 points with just two regular matches to play. Both are at the Arms Park against Carmarthen Quins and then, crucially, Merthyr.
Pontypool and Merthyr both have two games in hand on the Blue and Blacks and will look to pounce should there be any slip-ups.
Pontypool and Merthyr still have to play each other once more this season at Pontypool Park.
However Pontypridd, who still occupy fifth spot, only have one match remaining. They are 10 points behind Cardiff and now cannot finish fourth.
Wings Ewan Bowden and Ryan Gardner, lock Dylan Bartlett and centre Ethan Phillips scored for Ebbw Vale in their 24-17 win at Swansea, with Evan Lloyd kicking two conversions.
Skipper Tom Florence and wing Llien Morgan went over for the All Whites. Luke Scully converted both and added a penalty.
Cardiff tightened their grip on fourth spot after they came from 13-0 down to win 28-13 with a bonus point at Aberavon.
A try in each half for Dewi Cross along with second-half scores from hooker Alun Rees and centre Arron Pinches got the job done for Cardiff. Arwel Robson kicked four conversions.
Two early James Davies penalties and a converted Joe Gage try had put the Wizards in front.
Pontypool ran in five tries in a 39-14 victory over Bridgend.
Wing Marcus Jones, lock Ashley Sweet, scrum-half Morgan Lloyd, centre Joel Mahoney and hooker
Sam Scarfe crossed the whitewash. Matthew Jarvis kicked 14 points.
Tries from captain Evan Yardley and full-back Edd Howley bookended the scoring. Jamin Hodgkins converted both.
Merthyr warmed up for Sunday’s WRU Premiership Cup final showdown with Llandovery by recording a 31-27 victory over RGC at The Wern.
Hooker Ellis Shipp (2) and inside centre Morgan Sieniawski went over in the first half for Merthyr, who found themselves 20-17 down at half-time. They also trailed 27-17 before late tries from outside centre Cole Swannack and full-back Josh Lewis secured a comeback win. Lewis added three conversions. The race is over for Pontypridd following their 22-20 reverse at Carmarthen Quins.
Fly-half Charlie Titcombe kicked five penalties for the West Walians, as well as converting a first-half try, to consign Pontypridd to their first loss in four matches under interim head coach Chris Dicomidis and end any faint hopes they had of snatching fourth.
Pontypridd outscored the Quins three tries to one on the day with centre Ryan Wilkins scoring twice in the second half adding to lock Mitch Barnard’s first-half try. It was converted by Ben Burnell, who also kicked a penalty.
“It’s frustration more than anything, our discipline just let us down in the end,” said Wilkins.
“We talked all week about our discipline being key up here, a hard place to come and tough conditions during the game.
“But giving away eight penalties in the first half and seven in the second half, we’re never going to come away with a result there.”
Pontypridd, who opted against applying for a licence to join the new 10-team Elite Domestic Competition from next season, wrap up their campaign at RGC.
Wilkins added: “It could potentially be the last time a few of us play together, so we’ll want to go out with a bang, not just for the boys, but for the fans who have followed us all year.
“We want to leave it on a positive for them as well.”