Title to be decided by winner-takes-all clash
THE Three West Central A title will be decided in a winner-takes-all showdown between Bridgend Sports and Pyle on Saturday.
Heading into the final game of what has been a pulsating season Sports are in the box seat as, on 92 points, they hold a three-point lead over Pyle (89).
The Pigs of Pyle ran in 16 tries as they recorded a mammoth 110-26 victory over brave Glais last weekend in their penultimate game.
Ieuan Evans led the way with five tries while Luke Church and David Pound both ran in hattricks. John Fulton dotted down twice alongside tries from Thomas Jenkins, Nathaniel James and John Waller. Joe Gallivant added 15 conversions.
It was a third – and unprecedented – 100-point-plus game for Pyle after wins over Penlan (106-0) and Neath Athletic (100-0) in their previous two outings.
Whatever the result of the title decider, Pyle will be playing their rugby in Division Two next season, which was almost unthinkable almost two years ago when, with only three players turning up for pre-season training, the proud club were on the brink of extinction.
Bridgend Sports remain on course to cap their own promotion campaign with the title. Sports were 39-26 winners over thirdplaced Vardre last Saturday. Scott Callicott scored twice.
Swansea Uplands, who finish fourth, ended their season with a narrow 25-24 win at Cwmgors.
Scrum-half Gareth Andrew’s double led the way, with centre Luke Jenkins scoring the other try. Fly-half Tom Osbourne kicked two conversions and two penalties.
In Three West Central B, Baglan will win the title if they beat bottom side Rhigos in their final game on Saturday. Baglan are currently second and behind Bryncethin courtesy of having won a game fewer. Both sides are on 83 points although Bryncethin have now finished. The latter rounded off with a 104-6 home rout of Alltwen.
Cwmllynfell, who are one point back in third, first have the chance to gain promotion themselves tomorrow night (Thursday) when they entertain second-frombottom Pontycymer in their final match. Cwmllynfell have won one game fewer than Baglan.
Cwm were 48-7 home winners over Rhigos in their penultimate match last Saturday.
Chris Balfe’s four-try salvo led the way, with Dylan Morgan helping himself to a brace. Owain Sullivan and Teifion Davies also went over, while Peter Thomas landed four conversions. Lewis Morgan got the Rhigos try, converted by Brandon Sherwood.
Fourth-placed Glyncorrwg, on 79 points, kept their slim hopes of forcing their way into the top two alive with a crushing 85-18 home win over Pontycymmer in their penultimate game.
Damian Warlow, Steven Lewis, Aaron Lewis, Liam David Gibbs, Robert Matthew Jones, Daniel Richards, Ryan Davies, Rhodri Thomas, Steffan Hnatiuk (2), Joshua Thomas, Daniel Gully and Jonathan Howells scored the tries.
Davies also kicked 10 conversions for Glyncorrwg, who finish the season at Crynant on Saturday.
Penygroes, as champions, and Furnace United have been promoted from Three West Central C.
That division wrapped up last Saturday with home victories for bottom club Fall Bay, 18-7 over Ogmore Vale, and South Gower, 20-19 over Tonna, respectively.
The Two West Central season also came to a conclusion last Saturday with two outstanding fixtures.
Nantyffyllon, who have been promoted along with champions Birchgrove, ended their campaign with a 14-13 win at Pencoed.
Chad George scored Nantyffyllon’s try, with Drew Price adding rest of the points from the tee.
And Resolven, who end the season in fourth, finished off with a 26-14 home defeat of Morriston.
Sam Martin, Anthony Lee, Jackson Pugh and Mark Roberts got the tries, with Owen Evans adding three conversions.
Fifth-placed Porthcawl had already completed their league fixtures but do still end the season with silverware after lifting the Central Glamorgan District Cup with a 24-19 victory over Skewen in the final at Maesteg RFC.
Will Robinson scored two tries and Aled Thomas one. All three were converted by Ben Thomas, while Josh White kicked a penalty.
It capped a solid first season for Rhys James’s Porthcawl side as a Division Two club. They were promoted as Three West Central A champions and WRU National Bowl winners at the end of last season.