LOCAL RUGBY ROUNDUP
ONTYPOOL march on in the Specsavers National Championship after edging the big top of the table clash with rivals Bargoed 13-10.
Leighton Jones’ men certainly needed to dig deep and, with an hour gone at Pontypool Park, a first league defeat since March 2017 seemed a real possibility.
Two Kieran Meek penalties put Pooler 6-0 up but the visitors hit back to lead 7-6 at half time thanks to Josh Prosser’s try which was converted by Steffan Jones.
Jones extended that lead to 10-6 at the start of the second half but Pooler would not be denied and there were scenes of jubilation when Lloyd Lewis collected a pass over the top from Richard Powell to crash over.
Meek took care of the extras and Pontypool held out for a 58th consecutive Championship win and certainly one of their most crucial.
It also inflicted a first defeat of the season on Bargoed and ended their run of eight straight bonus point wins.
Pooler’s 11th win out of 11 means they are now also 11 points clear of
Bargoed who, with only a losing bonus point to show for their efforts slip to third, albeit with a game in hand.
Bedwas are also 11 points behind the champions but have two games in hand after they thrashed Glamorgan Wanderers 54-5 to make it nine wins from nine and move into second.
Greg Callow and Matthew Williams both went over twice with Craig Hudd, Owain Keane, James Richards and Rory Harries the Wass’ other try scorers.
Brad Williams converted seven of the eight tries.
That defeated for the Wanderers saw them slip from fourth to fifth and be overtaken by Cardiff Met, who got the better of Maesteg Quins 47-18.
Meanwhile Cross Keys made it back-to-back wins as four Kieran Hill penalties saw them win 12-7 at bottom club Ystrad Rhondda.
A hat-trick from Roy Osborne inspired Narberth to a 44-0 victory over Ystalyfera.
Joe Hutchings, twice, and Tom Powell also scored for the Otters. Nick Gale kicked the rest.
Neath beat Tata Steel 27-12 thanks to tries from Jacob Blackmore, Liam Tobias, Ben Atkins and James Roberts while a late Cameron Ellis score saw Beddau win 15-10 at Trebanos.
PONTYCYMMER travelled to Glyncynwal Park for this Division Three West Central clash. When the two teams met on the opening weekend of this season’s campaign at Lawrence Park in September , the game ended in a thrilling 14-14 draw.
This time the home side were on song, with the green and ambers a little off key. The Garw Valley outfit went into the game missing a few players due to work commitments, which was costly. In defeat none worked harder for Pontycymmer than skipper Scott Forester and ex Maesteg prop Craig Hitchings.
Next up for Pontycymmer is the annual “Jimmy Walker Memorial Match “on Boxing Day verses Llangeinor AFC, at Llangeinor Park. Kick off 11am.
Pontycymmer return to league duties on Saturday 28th December, when Rhigos travel to Lawrence Park.