ADMIRAL WELSH CHAMPIONSHIP
YSTRAD Rhondda’s remarkable season just keeps on getting better and better with their 21-17 home win over Bargoed not only keeping them in fourth place in the Admiral Championship, but also earning them another cup final spot.
At the start of the season their stated goals were to finish in the top five in the Championship, reach the WRU Championship Cup final and win the Mid District Cup.
They went on to revise their league ambition to claim fourth place.
They lost out to Pontypool in the Championship Cup final, but this league triumph over reigning champions Bargoed, who sit in third place, also doubled as a semi-final victory in the Mid District Cup. They will now meet Brecon in the final at Sardis Road.
Steffan Jones dropped a goal to give Bargoed an early lead, but by half-time it was Ystrad who had their noses in front at 13-10.
Rhys Truelove also dropped a goal and claimed the man of the match award as he went on to add a conversion and two penalties.
Flying wing Kurtis Williams took his try tally for the season up to 12 with the first home try and Macauley Rowley grabbed the other.
Bargoed hit back with two tries, from scrum-half James Leadbeater and Lewys Lippiatt, and Jones converted them both.
It was sweet revenge for Ystrad, who had been beaten by Bargoed in the Mid District Cup final last season. They are now out of the promotion places after Neath won 45-17 at Glamorgan Wanderers to move a point clear of them with two games in hand.
Table-topping Pontypool were 61-0 winners at home over Beddau on Friday night having been gifted five points a few days earlier when Bedwas were unable to take a team to Pontypool Park.
They now lead Neath by 10 points with four games each left to play.