A DOMINANT first-half display helped Abergavenny RFC to a 29-22 home win over Nelson on Saturday to take them one step closer to the Division Three East title.

Abergavenny got off to a great start with centre Gareth Hughes-Jones completing an excellent move in the first few minutes.

It had started with a scrum on Abergavenny's own 22-yard line, but a full-length drive, in which with both the backs and forwards proved influential, resulted in Hughes-Thomas breaking the deadlock. Another centre, Leighton Thomas, then doubled the lead soon after, leaving Nelson in the blocks.

This time James Didcote atoned for the earlier missed conversion to leave Abergavenny seemingly cruising at 12-0.

Didcote then went over himself for the third try of the day, a pushover try from the middle of the maul to further increase the gap.

A penalty try, awarded after the Nelson scrum collapsed, added further misery before half time to the visitors, who had managed just three points in reply to Abergavenny's 24.

The second half saw a resurgence from Nelson, who had made changes at half time.

But while Nelson managed 19 points in an improved second period, any thoughts of catching the hosts were ended when full back Ryan Williams added his side's sixth try of the afternoon.

Abergavenny now lead Division Three East with 18 points from seven games.

More significantly, the win lifts them three points clear of Pontypool, Llanishen, Nelson and Fairwater and they boast three games in hand over second-placed Senghen-ydd, whom they lead on points difference. Their next fixture sees them travel to Old Illtydians in Cardiff this weekend for a 1pm kick-off. Old Illtydians are currently seventh with four wins from their opening six games and also boast the best defence in the league, but Abergavenny are nevertheless confident of stretching their lead at the top.

Club chairman Mike Aylett added: "We're now hoping for another win on Saturday against Old Illtydians. They often save all their best rugby for the end of the season and can throw in some new guys we don't know, but we'll be confident of another three points."