Griggs on the mark as Tata claim crucial win

TATA Steel took another step towards ensuring their WRU National Championship survival with a 42-34 victory over Narberth.

Jake Lewis and Steff Davies added to a penalty try and a Dan Griggs brace to lead Tata to victory.

Dan Guarneri kicked the rest of the points.

The Otters, who had sat in second place in the table coming into the clash, left with a bonus point thanks to tries from Yannick Parker and Tom Powell as well as a brace from Jack Price.

Trebanos moved out of the bottom four with a 19-10 victory over Maesteg Quins, who slip into it as a result.

Tom Dew scored a try and three penalties. Rhodri Williams completed the scoring with a try.

Newbridge, who have just one game remaining, are all but relegated after losing 29-28 to basement boys Newcastle Emlyn, while Rhydyfelin, who lost 25-20 to Beddau, occupy the other spot in the drop zone.

It’s set to be a tense finish with only eight points separating Bedlinog (40) in fifth place and Newbridge (32) in 10th.

Tata are sixth, with Trebanos eighth.

Pontypool have been crowned champions for the third season in a row and with five games to spare.

They were pushed all the way by Cardiff Met but managed to pull off a dramatic 41-40 victory, their 42nd consecutive league win.

After a competitive opening 40 minutes Pontypool held a slender 21-19 advantage at half-time.

Craig Price, Geraint Walsh and Danny Hodge all crossed for the Gwent side, with Matthew Lewis adding the extras.

But Harvey Scott, Jack Wright and Russell Bennett replied for the students, with the latter kicking two conversions.

Met added a further three tries in the second half, with Tom Benjamin and Tom Pearson among the scorers as they looked to end Pooler’s winning run.

However, Pontypool are not a team who are used to losing and they hit back through Lloyd Lewis and a Michael Herbert brace, which left them trailing by just two points.

And with the clock ticking down Lewis was given enough time and space to aim a kick at the posts for a match-winning drop-goal.

Elsewhere, Ystrad Rhondda beat Bedlinog 33-32 to move back into second place.