Leaders Pooler make it a sweet sixteen

Welsh Championship round-up

PONTYPOOL extended their lead at the top to 11 points but were made to work hard for their 19-9 win against lowly Maesteg Quins.

Two penalties from Owen Howe gave Quins a surprising 6-0 lead but they were pegged back when Jordan Thomas crashed over for the opening try.

Quins’ Lee Ronan and Pooler’s Rob Nash were both shown yellow cards as tempers flared but once the rugby resumed it was the visitors who took control with winger Lloyd Lewis putting the Gwent side ahead for the first time.

Thomas added his second score shortly after with Matthew Jones supplying both conversions.

Howe kept Quins in the game with his third penalty but they were again reduced to 14 men when replacement Andrew Healy was sent to the sin-bin.

Dean Ronan also saw yellow moments later and Pooler managed to see out the win – their 16th consecutive victory in the league this season.

Ystrad Rhondda suffered a shock 18-17 home defeat to relegation-threatened Rhydyfelin. Sion Summers and Corey Shepherd added to a penalty try for Ystrad but it proved only enough to claim a losing bonus point. It was a good day for Cardiff Met University as they beat Narberth 29-21 to leapfrog into third place, two points behind Ystrad.

Chris Lewis, Barry Karea, Ellis Bevan and Dan Kennett were all on target for the Archers while Harry Johnston wrapped up the bonus-point victory with nine points.

Narberth hit back with tries from Kieran Jones, Yannik Parker and Jake Jenkins. Newcastle Emlyn remain rooted to the bottom following their 15-13 defeat to Beddau. Newbridge are not out of danger after losing 15-12 to Tata Steel while the mid-table clash between Trebanos and Bedlinog saw the former emerge as 24-13 victors.