Rain may have ruined most of the rugby programme on Saturday, but it was a day to remember at Llynfi Road, where Maesteg ran up their ninth successive victory – their best-ever run in 11 seasons of league rugby.
Maesteg’s last defeat was at Beddau on November 3 and when they went to Narberth in September they lost 39-28, but this time they left the league leaders beaten for only the third time this season.
As with Maesteg, Narberth’s last loss was also on November 3 and the Otters went confidently into a 1l-6 interval lead with fly half Simon Daniel scoring the only try to take his tally to 164 points this season.
Neath under-21 player Aled Davies and Maesteg fly half Matthew Pearce, himself a former Neath player, kicked a brace of penalties apiece.
In the second spell, Maesteg scrum half Richard Morgan, the cousin of Australian cricket star Stuart McGill, scored a try that Pearce converted and again Davies and Pearce traded penalties, but Davies missed a late shot that would have won it for arberth and Maesteg were winners by 16-14.
Pearce now tops the Division 2 scorers with 239 points that leaves him 43 ahead of scrum half Rhys Edwards of UWIC.
Only one other match took place in Divisions 2-4 when bottom club Tenby United went down at home to Birchgrove by 23-10 in Division 3 West. It was only Birchgrove’s fourth win of the season and leaves them in tenth position of the 13 clubs in the division..
DIVISIONS 5-7. ROUNDUP
Porthcawl’s South Road pitch was deemed in good enough condition to play by referee Gareth Saunders of Rhydyfelin and the ‘Seaweeds’ took full advantage to defeat Baglan 14-5 and move to third place in Division 7 Central.
A try after 20 minutes by centre Jason Bryant was converted by his partner Robert Price, but Baglan responded with a try by wing Marcus Puckett that saw fly half Liam Gadd’s excellent conversion attempt strike a post.
Porthcawl finished it just on the interval as Bryant again burst over for Price to convert. Their rearranged match away to leaders Dowlais next Saturday is now a key one.
Second-placed Rhigos stored to a 56-3 win in 7 Central at Aberavon Green Stars with nine tries being scored – two by Simon Grindle. In 6 Central the only match saw Banwen beat Abercwmboi 34-12 with a 5-0 try-count led by two from centre Barry Evans as Mark Bennett placed four penalties in reply.
Division 5 North saw a shock as leaders Llangefni fell at rexham by 2419 in only Wrexham’s third win in 15 matches and Llangefni’s second loss in 13 games.
Wrexham’s veteran lock Mike McLeod scored two tries plus a penalty try, while Arwel Roberts, Dylan Llyr and Rhodri Gray crossed for Llangefni.
Also in 5 North, Bangor and Welshpool shared six tries, but Bangor gained their first win by edging home 26-24. Newtown beat Mold and Llandudno scored four tries in defeating Pwllheli in another shock by 24-12.Pontllanfraith kept up the chase of leaders Barry in 6 East as they won 7-6 at Monmouth in the only match played in that division, while in 6 West Lampeter won 6-3 at Pembroke Dock Quins and Tycroes scored four tries in a 32-9 win over Cwmgors.
Nant Conwy are Division 6 North leaders after scoring two tries in a 12-3 win over Denbigh, while Bro Ffestiniog berat Machynlleth 12-9 in a game of kicks and Rhos had the only try in a 13-9 win at Colwyn Bay.
