While Pooler were battling long and hard against Carmarthen Quins in the National Cup, Bargoed did their best to maintain the pressure on the league leaders. Now they will be hoping that Bedwas can go to Pontypool Park on Friday night and cause an upset.
Darren Humphries dotted down twice with Jordan Purcell, James Leadbeater, Callum Jones, Geraint Edmunds and Steffan Jones their other scorers – while the latter added five conversions.
Meanwhile, with four sides set to drop out of the Championship at the end of the season, fifth from bottom Cross Keys now have a nine-point cushion on the relegation zone. That is after the Gwent men won 24-0 at Glamorgan Wanderers – their fifth win from the last seven.
Loui O’Brien converted Joe Thomas’ first half try and also kicked a penalty to steer Keys into a 10-0 interval lead. Further tries followed after the break from skipper Scott Andrews and Connah Vaughan, both converted by O’Brien, to seal another crucial win and also inflict a sixth defeat in seven on the Wanderers.
That win edges Keys four points further clear of Beddau, who slipped to a 24-7 loss at Maesteg Quins. Beddau had won the reverse fixture 27-12 back in October but Quins got their revenge thanks to Lee Ronan, Adam Hiller-Rees and two tries from skipper Steve Williams. Geraint Evans added two conversions.
Sam Edwards went over in the first for Beddau, converted by Morgan Price, but it could not save them from a fifth successive league defeat.
Trebanos, in 12th, are two points further back and now 11 from safety after going down 24-10 at in-form Ystrad Rhondda. First half tries from Rhys Truelove, which he also converted, and Jarrad Llewellyn gave Ystrad a 12-3 half time lead.
Ryan Howells and Sion Summers than crashed over in the second half with Truelove adding another conversion to secure a fifth straight victory and also avenge their 24-16 defeat by Trebanos back in October. A second half penalty try added to a Jack Evans penalty in the first for Trebanos.
Bottom club Ystalyfera have a mountain to climb if they are to avoid an immediate return to Division One. Gareth James’ side have now lost their last seven matches stretching back to 23 November and have not won away all season.
Their latest reverse was at Cyncoed where they were beaten 33-19 by Cardiff Met. Oliver Andrews, Will Rigg, Charles Ryland, Ethan McVeigh and Zac Clow were all on the scoresheet for the students with Evan Lloyd sending over four conversions.
Josh Jarrett, Luc Caines and Zac Beynon scored for the Fera with Steffan Castle adding the rest from the tee.
