PONTYPOOL players, officials and fans celebrated long into the night after a home success over visiting Glamorgan Wanderers earned them a first piece of silverware for 14 years, writes Terry Daley.

Pooler are WRU National Championship winners with two games to spare after Saturday's 23-3 victory. That follows their 2002-03 Welsh National League Division One triumph.

However, at the same time, bottom-but-one Newbridge went down at Glynneath - although there most certainly remains an escape route from relegation for them.

Pontypool chief executive officer Ben Jefferies was clearly pleased with the outcome and tweeted: “We joined Pontypool RFC in 2012 with a simple goal to make the club and town proud once again. The team have done just that this season.”

The club itself also joined in on social media, writing: “In 2012, Pontypool RFC very nearly became extinct. 1,725 long days of blood, sweat and tears later, we are champions!”

Pooler began needing to recover from a 30-22 away defeat by Cardiff Metropolitan University, an outcome which ended their 18-game wining run from the start of the season.

There was excellent team news with the return of second-row forward Elliott Ferriman, who had been sidelined after picking up an injury at Bridgend on April 16 last year.

With heavy underfoot conditions threatening to make the game less than attractive, it was a positive start by Pooler as flanker Gareth Rusby-Davies stormed over for an unconverted try in the seventh minute.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, visiting left winger Ellis Rudder found himself sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and Pooler took quick advantage with a five-pointer from skipper and hooker Ben Parry to double the lead.

There was no further scoring until the 66th minute through a penalty from Wanderers outside half Luke Fish, although a couple of similar kicks from opposite number Matthew Jones put Pooler in command at 16-3.

With only 10 minutes remaining, replacement back-rower Callum Davies went over for a third Pooler touchdown with Jones adding the extra two points to make the final score 23-3.

There were a couple of milestones in the success, Pooler passed through the 700-point barrier and Rusby-Davies' try was the side's 100th in league fixtures.

It certainly wasn't Pooler's best display of the season, but the truth is nobody cared a jot about such matters - a win, is a win and Pooler are the champions.

Sadly, the triumph does not means promotion to the Welsh Premiership as this is the first of a three-year ring-fence surrounding the top table of domestic rugby.

They are next in action on Saturday, when they entertain Tata Steel, and complete a hugely successful campaign with a first visit to Bedlinog's Recreation Ground.

Newbridge had made a magnificent comeback in winning three straight matches to allow them to go into their match at Glynneath full of confidence in their bid to retain their status.

They got off to a poor start, however, as tries from right winger James Roberts and centre Jordan Griffiths plus two penalties and a conversion by outside half Corey Jenkins put Glynneath in the driving seat at 18-0.

But Newbridge displayed their fighting qualities with scrum half Garyn Lucas crossing for a couple of tries and stand-off Simon Veal converting both.

Newbridge are four points adrift of the first safe spot occupied by Bedlinog, with both having two matches left, and five behind Skewen - who have only one game remaining.

Bedlinog are expected to escape from trouble with victory over already-relegated visitors Dunvant at the weekend.

Should Newbridge earn a maximum points reward from Saturday's home clash with the Wanderers and Skewen not pick anything up from a same-day trip to second-placed Narberth, then the clubs will be level on 40.

That would leave Newbridge needing only another losing BP at Narberth on April 22 to send Skewen down, although two maximum BP wins for them in their remaining fixtures, and favourable results elsewhere, could see them finish as high as sixth in the 12-strong table.

Next scheduled WRU National Championship fixtures. Saturday, April 8: Newbridge v Glamorgan Wanderers; Pontypool v Tata Steel; Bedlinog v Dunvant; Narberth v Skewen; Newcastle Emlyn v Glynneath.

* WRU National League Three East C leaders Markham ran in no less than 19 tries in posting one of the highest recent victories in defeating bottom-but-one visitors Forgeside 128-0. Touchdowns for the already-promoted hosts came from Gavin Price (4), Kris Meredith (3), Dewi Carpenter (3), Lewis Hughes (2), Luke Hughes (2), Iwen Edwards, Gareth Price, Lewis Benjamin, Ryan Jones and David Davies.