While Newport defeated Llanelli 44-17, Swansea kept up the challenge with a 49-20 beating of Pontypridd and there were successes again for Aberavon, Neath, Bridgend and Carmarthen Quins, while Caerphilly accounted for bottom-placed Llandovery and Pontypool had a good win at Cardiff.
Four clubs – Llanharan, Brynmawr, Blackwood and Maesteg remain unbeaten in Division One with Llanharan coach Dennis John and his Blackwood counterpart Mark Thomas both having moved splendidly to inspire their men after the two clubs had lost something like 30 players between them in the summer.
Llanharan’s young Marc Davies scored 15 points at Beddau to be the first man in the top flight to 100 points and Maesteg’s Karl Hocking became the first forward (and only the second player) to score 100 league tries with two, plus a yellow card, at Glamorgan Wanderers.
Hirwaun took over the leadership of Two East after Merthyr had suffered a disastrous second half at Y Parc, the home of Abercynon, who are no longer a sleeping tiger it appears.
Corus are setting the pace in Two West and it is good to see Dunvant up in second place, while in Three West, Pontyperem’s run was halted when their match at Haverfordwest was called off – a fate that befell nine other matches.
Newport HSOB were surpringly beaten 8-7 by Pill Harriers in a key match in Three East, while in the South-East, Rhydyfelin defeated Gilfach Goch 20-12in the topmatch and in the South-West, unbeaten pair Bryncoch and Maesteg Quins both won.
Bargoed gained their fourth successive win in Four East, though Crumlin fought hard before losing 19-12, and Llandybie moved in front of Loughor in Four West after the latter’s match was called off.
Penarth bounced back in Four South-East with an excellent victory at Heol y Cyw by 24-14 and in Four South-West Cwmgors stayed unbeaten after a 13-6 success at Amman United.
In the north, Bala still found the going tough as they lost 9-0 to Mold, but Ruthin top the table with a win at Llandudno and Nant Conwy only just held off a spirited Caernarfon by the odd point in 29.
In Five North it is Welshpool and Colwyn Bay setting the pace, with the latter having a good win over Machynlleth, while in Five East the top match saw Trinant win 27-12 at Bettws and in Five West there was a shock as leaders Furnace United crashed at Pembroke.
With Llandaff having the bye, Llantwit Major’s win over Rhiwbina gave them the leadership of Five South-East and Resolven and Pontardawe remain the unbeaten clubs in Five South-West after wins over Baglan and Crynant respectively.
