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Pontypool move further ahead as rivals slip up

Pontypool move further ahead as rivals slip up

The chasing pack in the WRU National Championship gave reigning champions Pontypool a helping hand as both the second and third placed teams slipped to defeat on a day the league leaders hit Skewen for six.

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Pooler’s 38-10 home win earned them another bonus point and with Trebanos falling 27-23 at Narberth and Tata Steel losing 25-10 at Bedlinog, the gap at the top has now grown to 12 points after seven rounds.

At least Tata Steel will get a chance to do something about that this weekend when they host the champions in a key clash. Trebanos host bottom but one Glynneath.

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Rhodri Usher was the star for the champions as he ran in a hat-trick of tries against mid-table Skewen. Marc Thorley, Aaron Quick and Cameron Watson-Boycott were the other try scorers, while Matthew Jones kicked four conversions.

Trebanos scored first half tries through Lloyd Phillips and Steff Lewis to lead 20-11 at the break at Narberth, but then picked up two yellows and a red card in the second half and lost their grip on the game. The Otters dug deep and with five penalties split between Jonathan Rogers and Ianto Griffiths they mounted a major comeback that earned them a fourth win of the campaign.

An early penalty was followed by Jake Price’s try and all of a sudden the home side were 21-20 ahead. Trebanos replied with a penalty from Matthew Edwards, who kicked 13 points, to edge back in front, but further indiscipline cost them as two more penalties sealed the deal for Narberth.

Bedlinog ran in three tries to Tata Steel’s two in their morale boosting home win. Dan Parry, Gareth Davies and Josh Martin grabbed the home touchdowns and Parry ended the game with 15 points as he kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Beddau’s 31-5 win over Cardiff Met allowed them to stay in touch with the chasing pack as they picked up a bonus point to stay in fourth place. Joe Casalla, Joe Miles, Lloyd Evans, Leon Rogers and Hywel Chatham scored their tries against an understrength visiting team and Zak Byard kicked three conversions.

There was all to play for at Glynneath where two tries from Craig Tennant enabled the home side to win 23-18 against Rhydyfelin and move above them off the bottom of the table. Newbridge also marched up the table thanks to an impressive 36-17 home win over Newcastle Emlyn.

Centre Paul King was the home hero at the Welfare Ground as he ran in a hat-trick of tries to go with other scores from full back Haydn Palmer and flanker Luke Morgan. Simon Veall kicked 11 points to complete the victory.
 

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Pontypool move further ahead as rivals slip up