Trebanos entertain Newcastle Emlyn on Saturday needing just two points from the game to ensure WRU National Championship status for next season.
A narrow 17-16 defeat at Maesteg Quins last weekend, coupled with a 28-24 bonus-point win for Newcastle Emlyn over Tata Steel, means that the Crows are not quite safe just yet. Three of the four relegation places have already been decided with Bedlinog joining Newbridge and Rhydyfelin in being consigned to their fate after losing 19-16 at home against champions Pontypool.
Bedlinog, who have now completed their fixtures, do have the same number of points (42) as Beddau and Trebanos but the latter two sides have, crucially, recorded one more win. Newcastle Emlyn have just one match remaining and, with 38 points, will be the fourth side to be relegated should they fail to beat Trebanos.
Even if they do, bonus points will be enough to save Trebanos even with a defeat against Emlyn. Trebanos also still have two to play after that. Beddau are the third side on 42 points and defeat for them in their final match at Ystrad Rhondda on Saturday could still see them pulled into the bottom four.
Despite defeat at Emlyn for Tata Steel, they are now on 46 and safe with two games to spare. Emlyn knew defeat at home by Tata last Saturday would have sent them down as well.
However they live to fight another day thanks to victory at Dol Wiber. Emrys Davies, Teifion Davies, Llyr Davies and Gareth Thomson scored the tries for Emlyn with Dan Davies adding the conversions.
The big movers over the past week have been Maesteg Quins. Heading into their crunch clash with Tata Steel last Wednesday night, Quins were in the bottom four and staring relegation in the face after a hat-trick of defeats.
But a 30-15 win over Tata was then followed up last Saturday with a narrow home win over Trebanos that has lifted them up to sixth and a point clear of the drop zone. Aled Edwards and Ben Davies scored the tries for Quins against Trebanos, both converted by Tadgh McGuckin who also kicked a penalty.
Lewis Humphreys scored a try and also landed a drop goal for Trebanos with Tom Dew kicking two penalties as well converting Humphreys’ score. That win for the Quins came less than 72 hours after a first win over Tata since 1996.
Aled Evans and Rhys Costain went over in that one, with McGuckin booting two conversions and three penalties. There was also a penalty try. Scott Malone and Morgan Williams got the tries for Tata, with Dan Guarneri adding a penalty and a conversion.
Quins have two games remaining which are both at home, against Narberth on Saturday before the return clash with Tata on May 4.
Meanwhile, in beating Bedlinog to secure a 44th straight league win, Pontypool also set a record for the number of consecutive Championship wins – overtaking the previous record of 43 set in 2014 by Ebbw Vale.
Michael Herbert, Rhodri Usher and skipper Rob Nash scored the tries for Pooler with Kieran Meek adding two conversions. Usher’s try was also Pontypool’s 100th in the league this season. Tata Steel are next to entertain the champions on Saturday.
