Cross Keys laid to rest a run of six successive league defeats by beating fellow Principality Premiership Table strugglers Maesteg 32-25 at Pandy Park.

Keys deserved the win after producing some sparkling attacking rugby in the first half, but it all got too close for comfort in the final quarter because they adopted some naive tactics and failed to close the game down.

In contrast, the visitors' experienced outside-half Luke Richards gave a masterclass in how to kick for position, taking maximum advantage of the breeze at his back in the second half.

Richards almost salvaged the game for the Old Parish in the closing minutes when he initiated a superb "loop" movement to enable Alex Wilkins to burst towards the home corner flag, but the left wing was recalled for a foot in touch.

Keys, who led 19-6 at the interval, clocked up five tries through centre David Price, right wing David James (2), full back Jonathan Williams and prop Brendan Fisher. Williams also kicked a penalty and two conversions, although he had the misfortune of being denied by an upright with two other penalty attempts. Maesteg's points came from tries by Richards, replacement hooker Gareth Thomas and No 8 Karl Hocking. Richards added two penalties and two conversions.

Home outside-half Scott Mitchell and centre Gareth Turner got through a lot of good work, while hooker Gary Horrigan and locks Mark Curtis and Ben Watkins caught the eye in the efficient Keys pack.

The best try of the match came 11 minutes after the restart. A Maesteg error enabled Mitchell and his fellow three-quarters to sweep upfield in a 50-metres passing movement that ended with Turner feeding James, who sprinted away for a splendid corner touchdown - his second of the game.

Alarm bells began to ring in the home camp when powerful Hocking crashed over for his 70th-minute try. Richards converted via an upright to cut the Keys lead to just seven points. It was all Maesteg in the final minutes but Keys just managed to keep them at bay to record a much-needed victory.

Cross Keys coach Robert Beale said after the match: "I'm really pleased for our boys because they put in a 110 per cent effort. We deserved to win, but I admire Maesteg because they fought hard and they were in the game right to the end. I thought we scored some cracking tries but they punished us heavily for a couple of silly mistakes. I'm relieved that we won. Now we need to end the season on a high note by beating Bridgend at Pandy Park next Saturday."

Gareth Brown, Maesteg head coach, said: "It was close in the end and a draw may well have been a fair result given our good second- half showing.

"We have put in some great performances in the last few weeks and our midweek victory at Cardiff (23-16) took a lot out of the boys. Cross Keys seized their chances and that's what you must do in this very competitive league."

Cross Keys: J Williams, D James, G Turner, D Price (L Humphreys 54), G Williams, S Mitchell, O Jones (R James 48), R Cornock, G Horrigan, B Fisher (J Price 58), M Curtis, B Watkins, capt, T Lampard, D Tovey (G Gladwyn 48) and C Bridges.

Scorers - Tries: D Price (5 min), D James (12 and 51 mins ), J Williams (37 min) and B Fisher (53 min); pen: J Williams (67 min); cons: Williams (2).

Maesteg: M Bennett, N Trowbridge, R Boobyer (S Robinson 53), M Davies, A Wilkins, L Richards, S Rees, G Edwards, L Williams (G Thomas 53), C Hopkins (S Tremlett 40+3), G Ronan (A Peever 79), P Clapham, P Morgan (M Wareham 35), I Boobyer, capt, and K Hocking.

Scorers - Tries: L Richards (47 min), G Thomas (63 min) and K Hocking (70 min ); pens: Richards (11 and 15 mins); cons: Richards (2).

Referee: Mr Gareth Simmonds (Cardiff).