The result at Gilfach was not what the Squirrels wanted as they enter a season defining month. They are still nine points adrif of the Wanderers with three games in hand, but they have to play them twice in their next four matches.
In fact, the title hopefuls play four games against teams in the top four in succession as the race for the title comes to a fascinating point. They host the Wanderers on Friday night, welcome fourth placed Rumney a week later and then entertain third-placed Bridgend Athletic on 23 March.
Their top flight sequence of matches then sees them take a trip across Cardiff to meet the Wanderers on 30 March. By the end of that game the likely destination of the title should be known.
April will see them head to Bridgend Athletic, while there will at least be a chance to gain some revenge on Gilfach Goch in a home return fixture. Other matches still to be played include a tough trip to Treorchy, who last weekend reached the semi-finals of the WRU National Bowl.
Rhys Morgans and Oliver Golden scored tries for the Squirrels at Gilfach with Lewis Pearce adding a conversion and a penalty. But it wasn’t enough to halt Gilfach’s revival.
Ricky Williams, Matthew Rutter and Adam Fry all scored tries for the home side as they made it three wins in three in the league. Connor Davies added the rest of the points with his boot.
Sion Martin was the hero for Dowlais in Division 1 East as he single-handedly boosted their survival chances with victory over basement boys Hartridge. Martin bagged all of the points in a 13-5 win with a try, conversion and two penalties that saw them move out of the bottom two.
However, with up to three clubs in danger of relegation there is still some work to do. Ynysybwl also picked up a crucial victory, beating Blaenavon 26-21, to move out of the relegation zone.
It remains congested in Division 1 North with Llandudno, Pwllheli and Ruthin all securing victories at the weekend. Llandudno saw off Bro Ffestiniog to stay at the summit – and they even opened up a two-point lead over second-placed Pwllheli, who beat Llangefni 20-7.
Ruthin moved up to third after edging past Caernarfon 25-10, but reigning champions Nant Conwy lost ground as they were held 10-10 at Bethesda.
Meanwhile, the battle at the bottom in Division 1 West Central went the way of Aberavon Quins. The Quins managed to beat bottom club Waunarlwydd 20-5 with Liam Oates and Nathan Flynn both touching down and Ryan Pugh added the rest with his boot.
Division 1 West leaders Felinfoel suffered only their third league defeat of the season as they went down 24-14 at Whitland. But they maintained their 15-point lead at the top as Gowerton failed to take advantage, losing 32-19 to third-placed Llangennech, who are now just a point behind them with a game in hand.
