ANGRY Abergavenny coach Gary Lawrence was furious with the match referee following his side's defeat to Llanishen on Saturday; claiming the official's inability to control the ruck and maul was the principle cause for the reverse.

He said this week: "It was incompetent refereeing; he just didn't referee the ruck and maul and allowed Llanishen to infringe time and time again. The only sides who have beaten us this year have been those who have got beyond us in the ruck and maul.

"Because the referee failed to give many decisions everyone else seemed to see, players started taking the law into their own hands and we had fighting - which is rare in our games."

Lawrence added: "People saw you have to play along with how the ref sees things but when he is as poor as on Saturday you can't get going." There was little expectation of what was to come when Abergavenny took the lead in the first half with a great try from Richard McCormac. The scrum half ran a full 40-yards to go over, while James Didcote added the extras.

Llanishen responded with a converted try of their own - then a penalty each saw the two sides go into the interval deadlocked at 10-10. Aber then had a period of pressure on the hosts' line at the start of the second half, with stand-in winger Ben Rutter joining a driving maul and coming out with the try.

Didcote's conversion restored the seven-point lead but a poor kick from defence let Llanishen in for a converted try.

And a penalty and a drop goal towards the end capped an unlikely, albeit disputed, win for the home side.

The result, coupled with Pontypool United's 34-7 thrashing of Pontllanfraith, saw the Division Three champions elect having their lead cut to six points. But Lawrence is still confident his side can pick up the minimal two wins from their last four games to secure the title.

He said: "We've four games to play and we're still in the driving seat. They're all against lower sides although New Tredegar have shot up the table in recent weeks.

"We should still get there but it just would've been more comfortable if we'd done it a week earlier."

This Saturday, Lawrence's men host Abercarn (kick-off 2.30pm) with a near full strength squad. Carl Warlbyoff is among those due to return - ending a "crisis" period for Lawrence when he has had to move backs around to fill in for other injured first-teamers.

He added: "To be fair the players have done well out of position but it's not ideal."