Bargoed’s magnificent 21-18 home win by Bargoed over the previous league leaders, Neath, and the race for the two promotion places is really heating up. Pooler are out in front with 50 points from 10 games, giving them the perfect record, while Neath are now two points behind having played a game more.
Bargoed are third with 38 points from 10 games, while Cross Keys are fourth with 37 from 11. Pontypool welcome Cross Keys at the end of the month.
Neath picked up a losing bonus point but fell to second in the Championship table after Bargoed supplied their first loss in eight games, scoring three tries on their way to a 21-18 win.
Bargoed had been losing ground to the top two before this weekend, but a vital win against Neath helped them continue to stay in touch with the pace setters this year.
Amosa Nove bagged a hattrick in his first game since October as Pooler added eight tries to their tally to claim a 10th straight bonus point victory this season. Dai Jones found Matthew Powell in space to grab Pontypool’s first try.
Nove quickly added a second, finishing well following an excellent Huw Anderson carry and offload, giving the home side a 12-0 lead.
Owen Howe added a penalty for the visitors before Adam Stretton added a third shortly before half time after a line break from Ashley Sweet, giving Pooler a 19-3 lead at half time.
Two quick tries from Mike Herbert Ashley Sweet early in the second half secured Pontypool’s 10th try bonus point of the season, and Matthew Jarvis added the extras. Dai Langon latched onto a perfectly weighted cross field kick from Jarvis to score Pontypool’s seventh try. Before Nove added his hattrick try with an easy finish in the corner.
Making his 200th appearance for Neath, Sion Crocker made an excellent start, opening the scoring for the visitors, however Steff Williams was unable to add the conversion. Ashley Norton finished off a fine move to hit back for Bargoed. Steffan Jones’ cool conversion put the home side in the lead.
Neath soon retook the lead following the break, as Matthew Davies added Neath’s second of the afternoon. Williams added the conversion before slotting a cool penalty, giving Neath a 15-7 lead. The Bulls hit back with a try of their own through Dylan Rogers, but Williams continued to keep his side ahead with the boot.
With just 10 minutes left Bargoed retook the lead when Wade Langley scored a a try in the corner, which was converted by Jones, which was ultimately the winning points.
Beddau continued their excellent form with a third win in three games, beating bottom side Tata Steel 36-14. The visitors now see themselves move from eleventh in the table to ninth, after an excellent few weeks.
Having lost 43-0 last time out against Narberth, Tata looked much improved. The side bottom of the Championship only trailed 19-14 at half time, but the visitors proved too much in the second half and ran away with a bonus point win.
Cross Keys moved their game against Ystalyfera to the 4G pitch at Ystrad Mynach and came out on top 36-19 to bag another bonus-point win. Adam Tetley and Chris Johnsey marked their 50th appearances for the club in style, but it was Will Gregory who picked up the man of the match award as Keys stayed in fourth place.
