PONTYPOOL successfully defended their WRU National Championship title thanks to an emphatic eight-try win in the capital, while Newbridge posted a fourth successive victory, writes Terry Daley.

Before their away game against Cardiff Metropolitan University, Pooler knew they had to recover from a mid-week WRU National Cup defeat at the hands of Welsh Premiership high-flyers Merthyr.

They did it in fine style to make it 17 straight victories since the start of the season and the silverware is theirs again with five fixtures still remaining.

They began at Cyncoed Campus seeking a win double over CMU, who they had beaten 74-14 at home on October 28 last year.

By the interval, it was all over as a contest as Pooler led 19-0 and they never once took their foot off the gas to eventually run out comfortable 54-10 victors.

They scored their first try as early as the fifth minute when full back Clayton Gullis crossed after collecting a chip ahead by outside half Matthew Jones, who converted.

A similar move with centre Kieran Meek’s chip picked up by right winger Owen Williams and a second Jones conversion soon had Pooler 14-0 up.

And just a minute from the break, loose-head prop forward Aaron Coundley touched down after a driving lineout.

The start of the second period was marked with a sin-bin for CMU hooker Corey Lewis and during his absence, Pooler rammed home their advantage.

First another driving lineout produced a bonus-point try for hooker Lewis Ball and then it was Meek’s turn to cross with Jones adding the extra points on both occasions.

That made it 33-0 and after uncontested scrums were introduced, Jordan Thomas, who had switched wings with Williams, ran behind the posts to enable Jones to slot over the conversion.

But the hosts finally got on the scoreboard to make it 40-5 thanks to a try from Charles Geary, although it took Pooler only three minutes to respond.

Replaced scrum half Martin Luckwell was the scorer, Jones converting, with Joel Mahoney, on for full back Ethan Davies, next to gain a five-pointer.

Jones once again added the two extra points to put the score at 54-5, although the students had the final word through right winger Rhys Gealy’s unconverted try.

Pooler's points took their overall tally to 696, their try total to 107 for and only 23 against and they have earned 15 bonus points out of a possible 17.

They are next in action on Easter Saturday, March 31, when they make the short trip to take on county rivals Newbridge at the Welfare Ground.

The Pigs are enjoying s very good season and put in another superb display in defeating hosts Trebanos 34-12.

They began having beaten Tata Steel (28-21), CMU (26-7) and Skewen (35-5) since losing 26-3 at Pontypool on December 30.

Just like Pooler against CMU, Newbridge had matters more or less settled by the time the second period started.

By then, they led 25-5 with the bonus point already secured after a fine performance against a home team still chasing the runners-up spot.

Left winger Rory Budina was the star of the show with a try hat-trick, with full back Lewis Hudd and centre Paul King also touching down.

Outside half Eamonn Reese kicked the other three conversions and a penalty while Trebanos full back Matthew Edwards scored all his side’s points with two tries and a conversion.

The outcome was their ninth win in 17 outings, although it means Newbridge stay fifth in the 12-club league table.

Next Championship fixtures. Saturday, March 31: Newbridge v Pontypool; Beddau v Bedlinog; Glynneath v Skewen; Narberth v Newcastle Emlyn; Rhydyfelin v Cardiff Metropolitan University; Trebanos v Tata Steel.

- National League Three East A outfit Monmouth Town failed to secure a place in the semi finals of the WRU National Bowl in being beaten 21-10 by visiting Three East Central A side Abercwmboi.