WRU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
YSTRAD Rhondda warmed up for their revenge mission against Pontypool on Tuesday night with a brilliant second half recovery at Bedwas that saw them win 48-29 in the Admiral Championship.
That made it seven wins in a row on the pitch to add to the 20-0 walk-over last week against Glamorgan Wanderers to keep them in fourth place.
Their clash with unbeaten Pontypool at home this week will give them the chance to avenge their WRU Championship Cup final defeat to the Gwent club at Principality Stadium.
Bedwas had a bonus point in the bag by half-time at the Bridge Field as they raced into a 22-17 lead. They continued to lead on the hour mark before Ystrad unleashed their bench.
Adam Williams scored twice for the home side and the other Bedwas tries came from Aaron Billingham, Tom Chapman and Harry Oliver. Iwan Burgwin added two conversions.
Ystrad made a number of changes to their line-up ahead of Tuesday’s big clash and played Pontypridd wing Dale Stuckey and Aberavon lock Chay Smallman on permit.
They began with a penalty try and then had touchdowns from hooker Corban Evans, flankers Morgan Burgess and Tom Jeavons, locks Nathan Hughes and Smallman, who got two, and replacement front row man Liam Wiggins.
Rhys Truelove converted three of the seven tries.
After Tuesday night’s clash with Pooler, Ystrad head to Malta for five days on tour.
When they come back they will still have three league games and a Mid District Cup final to go to complete their season.
Pontypool extended their lead at the top of the table to 10 points over Neath with three games left for both sides.
Neath, who didn’t play at the weekend, will need the leaders to slip up for the first time if they are to overtake them.
They ran in 10 tries in their 66-24 win at Cardiff Met in the students’ final game of the season, while Matthew Jarvis chipped in with eight conversions.
Adam Stratton and Pat Lewis both scored twice for the visitors, while wing Josh Carrington, flanker Morgan Lloyd and replacement Chris Johnson replied for Met.
Maesteg Quins condemned Cross Keys to their fifth defeat in 15 days as they hit back after conceding the opening try to Morgan Johns to win 34-24.
The ever-reliable boot of Owen Howe guided them to victory with five penalties and two conversions for a match tally of 19 points.