WRU League rugby round-up

3:54pm Monday 5th May 2008

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BOTH Blackwood and Fleur-de-Lys brought the curtain down on their WRU League Division One campaigns by winning with 33 points scored - but their end-of-season fortunes couldn't contrast more sharply.

While Blackwood were cementing third place by beating visiting Llanharan 33-17, Flower bade farewell to the division with a 33-19 home success over Newport Saracens.

Blackwood will now regroup and rebuild for a shot at promotion in 2008-09, while relegated Flower must do the same - but in Division Three East after finishing one from the bottom of the pile.

"We took a while to get started, but were fairly comfortable winners and only a last-minute try made the scoreline look a bit more respectable for Llanharan," said joint Blackwood coach Jeremy Lloyd.

"It's been a fair season and we are satisfied with finishing third (behind Pontypool and Caerphilly) in what has proved to be a very competitive league.

"We've ended the season on a high note and we obviously see finishing third as being a good advert for our summer recruitment programme.

"We only believe we need to bring in another three or four players, but it's disappointing to report we will be losing wing Owen Williams to Pontypridd.

"It's disappointing because we feel we shouldn't be losing players to clubs outside our region, and without doubt this has been a great failing of Gwent rugby."

Williams, on as a substitute wing having played for Ponty against Neath on Friday night, was on the try scoresheet against Llanharan, as were lock Mark Guilt and scrum- half Gavin Rees, while outside-half Paul Emmanuelli slotted over four penalties and a trio of conversions for an 18-point match haul.

Flower's win was only their fifth in 22 league starts, but it took them off the bottom and above Llantrisant.

"What a shame that we began to play well when it was too late," exclaimed Flower secretary Alan Evans.

"We felt we deserved something out of Wednesday's match against Pontypool (who won 22-14) and while it was extremely disappointing not to have done so, I'm pleased that the team carried over that good form into this match.

"Before the break we fairly demolished them up front, although credit to them for making a very good fist of it in the second half.

"Another pleasing aspect was that our backs came good. But overall even though we are relegated, we are pleased this victory got us off the bottom.

"It's been a difficult campaign and now is the time for us to sit down and plan for next season."

Flower led 33-0 at the interval with tries by number eight Matthew Lawrence, centre Ieuan Morris, hooker Mark Davies, prop Gareth Watkins and right-winger Mark McGee, and four conversions from outside- half Brett Green.

After the break, the Sarries, minus eight regulars for various reasons, struck back with five- pointers coming from Ross Palmer, Terry Mahoney and Scott Marrasco, with Palmer landing a couple of conversions.

"To be fair to Flower, they played very well in the first half and deserved their lead, but we were quite pleased with the way we recovered," revealed Sarries coach Paul Evans.

"We were a bit shell-shocked at the interval, but we managed to regroup ourselves in the second half.

"It's been a tough season (the Sarries were forced to play a whole series of games away while a new ground was being built for them in Maesglas) and we've finished the season third from bottom.

"But we haven't been relegated and we will now enjoy a short rest before beginning to see what we can do for next season."

In Division Two, in-form Tredegar continued their magical run in winning 35-8 at Rhydfelin, their ninth win from their last 10 games ensuring they ended the campaign in a highly respectable fourth position - after being at one stage likely relegation candidates.

"We are thrilled with the way things have worked out and the only disappointing matter is that the season has ended," said Tredegar Supporters Club chairman Alan Medleycott.

"It's been a great second half of the campaign for the club and we must pay credit to all the players, the team management and the coaching staff."

Tredegar crossed for three tries, from scrum- half Matthew Taylor (2), lock Jamie Noble and left- winger Gareth Kearney, while outside-half Greg Jones booted three conversions and as many penalties.

Already-relegated Newport HSOB were handed an unenviable task of facing champions Ystrad Rhondda on their own patch and the 57-8 scoreline in favour of the hosts adequately reflecting the huge gap between the two sides.

"To be honest, opposition teams have been far too big and powerful for us all season and in my opinion maybe Division Three East is the best place for us at the moment," said Old Boys team manager Kevin Morgan.

"We've been outgunned up front in almost every game and now we can regroup in a lower division."

Old Boys managed a try by prop forward Tom Piper and a penalty from scrum-half Andrew Screen as the title-holders confirmed their superiority by running in no fewer than eight tries.

Brynmawr are champions of Division Three East, but were not in action, while Abergavenny are also promoted in second place.

However, relegated are basement outfit Pontllanfraith and Senghenydd, who were thrashed 76-12 at mid-table Nelson.

In Division Four East, Gwernyfed go up as title- winners with second-placed Nantyglo, 14-10 winners at Brynithel, and Abertillery BG, surprise 19-13 home losers against Risca, left to battle it out for the second promotion spot.

Going down are Abercarn, who lost 14-0 at Monmouth, and Talywain, whose lack of playing strength has meant they haven't fielded a team for a number of weeks.

Division Five East winners Crumlin slipped to a shock 31-15 home reverse at the hands of fifth-placed Trinant, with Chepstow also going up as a result of clinching the runners-up spot.

Down, though, are RTB Ebbw Vale and Oakdale, while replacing them will be Division Six East kings Hartridge, who wound up their season with a 61-0 win at bottom-placed Whiteheads, and Markham, who won 45-5 at home against Caerleon.