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Brecon head coach Kristian Dacey was a proud man after his side notched their first win of the season in the Admiral Premiership – at the 11th time of asking.

The Premiership’s bottom club finally stopped the rot as they defeated Cross Keys 17-13 at Parc de Pugh. Wing Huw Jones and full-back Jake Newman were the Brecon try scorers, both converted by Rhys Davies – who also kicked a penalty.

Max Heathman scored the Keys try. Josh Malson converted and sent over two penalties. It finally ended a run of 10 straight league defeats from the start of the season for Brecon and was also a maiden win under the guidance of ex-Wales hooker Dacey.

He took the reins at the end of last season following three hugely successful seasons, including two promotions, under the previous coaching team headed up by Dale McIntosh.

“It’s been a difficult start to the season in terms of the way the fixtures have fallen and obviously, you’ve had injuries thrown into that mix,” said Dacey.

“This isn’t a team that’s built on budget. It’s a team that’s built on players who want to test themselves at this level.

“And for us to go out there and play the way we played and grind out the win against a very good Cross Keys side, the boys were relieved more than anything to actually get across the line.

“But I think it does give them that belief and that awareness to realise that they’re good enough to be at this level.

“Like I’ve just said to them, I’m immensely proud. It’s been tough for all of us; the club, the players, the staff, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes.

“This is something that I’ve told everybody is coming. It was something that we had to earn and the boys did that and, from me and from the coaching staff, we’re just immensely proud.”

Following the win over Keys, Brecon now have seven points, but they remain 14 from safety.

Narberth pulled themselves six points clear of the relegation zone after they stunned leaders Pontypridd 21-14 at the Lewis Lloyd Ground.

Full-back Rhodri Smith’s try after 21 minutes, converted by Jaydan Pugh, gave a depleted Ponty the lead in Pembrokeshire but that was cancelled out by centre Ilan Phillips’ score for the Otters 10 minutes later. Jonathan Rogers added the extras as the players went in level 7-7 at the break.

Wing Dale Stuckey restored the visitors’ lead five minutes after the re-start, rounding off a well-worked team move, with Pugh again converting.

That try for Stuckey was his 108th for Pontypridd and took him to outright fourth in the club’s all-time leading try scorers. The scoreboard was level again on the hour after full-back Ashley Sutton’s second try for Narberth, improved by Rogers.

The game’s decisive try arrived on 67 minutes and went to the home wide when wing Osian Hill broke clear following a Narberth attack to score. Rogers converted. It secured Narberth their fifth win of the campaign and saw them climb three places to eighth in the table.

The Otters climbed above Cardiff Met, who were not in action, along with Llangennech and Newbridge, who had their home fixtures – with Bargoed and Beddau respectively – postponed.

With champions Merthyr’s home game with Llanelli Wanderers also postponed, the losing bonus point secured by Pontypridd in defeat at Narberth edges them a point further clear and now two ahead of both Merthyr and Beddau.

However, Merthyr now have two games in hand on Ponty and Beddau one game in hand.
Ystrad Rhondda’s clash with Neath was also postponed.