Tata’s long wait for a win goes on

TATA Steel’s run without a win in the WRU National Championship goes on after they lost 13-10 at Narberth.

A first-half try from flanker and captain Scott Malone helped put Tata 10-0 up by halftime at the Lloyd Lewis Ground, with fly-half Dan Guarneri adding the conversion as well as a penalty.

However Narberth, having come within a whisker of beating powerhouses Pontypool on the same ground just a week earlier, produced a second-half comeback to deny Tata and consign them to a fifth straight league loss.

The Narberth try was scored by flanker Andrew Cooke, which was converted by Nick Gale, and the latter’s two penalties saw them complete the comeback and edge a nailbiting encounter.

Tata are without a win since their 26-25 triumph over Rhydyfelin on November 10.

Seventh in the table, they will be hoping to change that this weekend as they head to second-from-bottom Newcastle Emlyn.

Trebanos, two points and one place above Tata in the table, will be hoping to put the disappointment of having to concede their WRU National Cup second-round tie at Llandovery last weekend behind them as they gear up for the visit of 10thplaced Rhydyfelin.

Due to the cup, there were only two other Championship matches played last weekend.

Ystrad Rhondda moved into second after bagging maximum points against Maesteg Quins.

A late Corey Sheppard try saw Ystrad run out 26-6 winners and saw them move three points ahead of Cardiff Met.

It wasn’t an entirely comfortable victory as Quins took the lead with a penalty before Sion Summers replied for Ystrad.

A second kick from Quins closed the deficit to just one point but Kurtis Williams crashed over after the break to open up a bit of a gap.

A yellow card to Ystrad lock Kyle Evans gave Quins an advantage but they failed to take it, with Liam Wiggins and Sheppard both touching down to round off an excellent afternoon for the Rhondda club.

The victory moved them to within eight points of leaders Pontypool, but the Gwent outfit have three games in hand.

Rhydyfelin moved off the bottom with an impressive 22-5 victory over Bedlinog.

Gavin Close and Dai Gratton added to a penalty try as Rhydyfelin claimed just their fourth win in 13 league games.

Gratton was also on hand to add a penalty and conversion.

The win means Beddau now prop up the rest of the division.