NATIONAL LEAGUE RUGBY

NARBERTH, who only lost for the second time this season in their last outing at Ystrad Rhondda, were just able to hang onto their unbeaten home run as they came from behind to beat Beddau 14-13 in the WRU National Championship.

Nick Gale got the home side off to a flying start with two early penalties, but Beddau battled back with a try from Josh Thomas that Hywel Chatham converted to take the visitors into the lead.

The Otters then went down to 14 men when replacement flanker Andrew Cook saw yellow and a Chatham penalty took the score to 10-6 at the break.

Chatham added another penalty shortly after the restart to extend the lead, but Narberth hit back with their third kick from Gale to remain in touch.

Disaster then struck Beddau as they saw Rhys Owens, for a tap on the head of an opponent, and Tom Oxenderry, for coming in at the side of a ruck, sent to the sin-bin in quick succession.

It was inevitable that the Otters would take advantage and a try from prop Bradley Davies gave them a slender one-point victory.

Pontypool strengthened their place at the top with a 34-5 victory over nearest rivals Ystrad Rhondda.

It took Pooler just nine minutes to get off the mark as hooker Darren Hughes went over for his first try for the club with Matthew Lewis converting.

Lloyd Lewis added the next score crossing in the right corner to hand Pontypool a 12-0 lead at the break.

The pressure mounted in the second half as the Gwent outfit built on their first-half lead and tries from lock Danny Hodge and Lloyd Lewis stretched the advantage.

Pooler’s Kieran Meek received a yellow card for tackling a man without the ball but it mattered little as Aaron Quick added to a penalty try for the unbeaten leaders before Kurtis Williams grabbed a consolation try for the visitors.

Pooler’s day was made better after third-placed Cardiff Met were beaten 25-20 at Maesteg Quins.

The only other game to go ahead saw Bedlinog beat Tata Steel 19-14 – their third win in four games.