LEAGUES ROUND-UP
ALREADY-PROMOTED Caerphilly agonisingly missed out on the title in Three East A after slipping to a 21-20 defeat at Usk and meant Hartridge, who had already completed their fixtures, take the crown by just a single point.
Dan Horler, Ben Papp, Alex Hopkinson and Iorwerth Williams got the Usk tries with Josh Guy adding a conversion.
Matthew Hurley and Tom Tandy scored for the Cheesemen with Matthew Hurley banging over a conversion and three penalties.
Despite missing out on the trophy, it’s still been a memorable season for Caerphilly, who also reached the WRU National Bowl final and will be playing Division Two rugby next term having already made sure of a top-two finish.
The only other game in that division saw Chepstow run out 40-32 victors at Blackwood Stars.
Rhydyfelin will be playing National Championship rugby next season after securing promotion with a 52-37 aggregate victory over Treorchy in their Division One East play-off.
The Village held a 42-24 victory heading into the second leg at One East champions Treorchy’s Oval ground and, despite slipping to a narrow 13-10 defeat on the day, had enough of a lead to secure victory overall.
Jordan Lloyd scored all of the Zebras’ points – converting his own try and booting two penalties – as they won the battle. But it was One East Central champs Rhydyfelin who won the war, with Luke Rees/Waygood scoring their try with Dai Gratton converting and adding a penalty.
Meanwhile, National Plate winners Penallta cemented second spot in One East after 14-14 draw at Nelson, who finished third.
Elliott Keep got the Pitmen’s try with Bleddyn Cornes booting three penalties while Dan Davies and Alec Jones scored for Nelson, both converted by Carl Maybank.
Another side to feature at WRU National Finals Day – Plate runners-up Ystalyfera – lost their final match in One West Central with Aberavon Quins beating them 32-26.
Jack Dacey (2), Jordan Condon and Ryan Pugh dotted down for the Quins with Marc Sheppard adding three conversions and two penalties from the tee. Dan White and Andy Llewellyn crashed over for the Fera who, with two penalty tries, bagged two bonus points. Gareth James converted three of their four tries.
Felinfoel beat Crymych in One West 22-10 while, in Two West, Fishguard got the better of Mumbles 22-14.
Llangollen won the battle of the bottom two in Two North as they beat Harlech 25-15 while already-crowned Three East D champions Crickhowell ran in eight tries on a 50-5 victory at basement boys Rhayader.
Harry Purvis and Danny Davies were both at the double with Lewys Cooke, Harry Summers, Jamie Hunter and Matt Botting getting the tries while Leon Rees converted three of them and Davies (2).