IT’S rare for a sports team to be dubbed The Invincibles, but Pontypool have joined that elite group thanks to a 100 per cent WRU Championship record, writes Terry Daley.

They made it 22 wins from 22 by winning 27-20 at Narberth, while Newbridge ended their season with a brilliant 50-39 victory at Newcastle Emlyn.

Not only is Pooler’s unbeaten record the first in the six-year history of the Championship, but it’s also a landmark achievement for any team to have won every game since leagues were introduced in 1990-1991.

Social media went into overdrive following the triumph with team manager Leighton Jones tweeting: "Incredibly proud of everyone at Pontypool RFC for what they have achieved this season.

"Their determination to go the whole season unbeaten shows we have a team who are ready for the challenge of achieving Premiership rugby next year. They have done Pontypool proud."

Pooler chief executive Ben Jefferies wrote: "Pontypool have made National Championship history. Played 22, won 22: Great team. Great staff. Great volunteers, Great supporters."

Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds added his on-line congratulations with: "Brilliant - well done to Pontypool RFC,what a fantastic achievement."

While it is clear they can only match their tremendous feat next season, Pooler’s task now is to ensure they will be in a position to earn promotion to dine at the top table of domestic rugby - the Welsh Premiership.

That competition needs to be re-branded because The Principality Building Society is diverting its financial backing to the WRU National Youth League for 2018-2019.

But whatever its guise, Pooler simply must be part of it because they have proved they are far too strong for the Championship, having won it last season with 21 victories out of 22.

Pooler visited Narberth’s Lewis Lloyd Ground on the back of a 40-7 away success over Rhydyfelin the previous Saturday and seeking their 11th win double having defeated the west Walians 29-10 at home last September.

But they didn’t have it all their own way and indeed had to recover from a stirring comeback which threatened to produce their first defeat of the campaign.

Pooler had raced into a 17-3 advantage minutes into the second period through tries from flanker Brendan Lampitt and left winger Rhodri Usher, plus a couple of conversions and a penalty by outside half Matthew Jones.

But Narberth stormed back to lead 20-17 with tries by centre Kieran Jones, right winger Nick Gale and a conversion and two penalties from full back Ianto Griffiths, who had kicked a penalty before the interval.

However, back came Pooler and after lock forward Rhodri Jones scored a try, Jones landed the conversion and sealed the win with another penalty.

Besides the 100 per cent record, Pooler’s impressive other stats for the season are: points 926-239; tries 139-30; try-bonus points 19; league points 107.

Only three bonus points were dropped, home to Rhydyfelin and at Tata Steel and Narberth, while Jones was the leading league and cup points scorer with 168 and Kieran Meek second with 163.

The top try scorer was Clayton Gullis with 18 and Meek was again second with 15.

Newbridge began at Newcastle Emlyn three days after a disappointing 24-5 home loss at the hands of Rhydyfelin, an outcome which meant they could no longer challenge for fourth place, held by Trebanos.

But they responded well by crossing for eight tries in recording their highest match-point total since winning 43-29 at Narberth in the final game of last season.

The game was highly exciting with the hosts touching down four times, although Newbridge were never behind and held a 31-21 interval lead.

Crossing for The Pigs were scrum half Owen Clemett (2), left winger Rory Budina (2), second-row forward Anthony Symonds, flanker Andrew Hughes plus centres Simon Veall and Scott Williams.

Outside half Eamonn Reese kicked five conversions as Newbridge posted win number 12 in 22 to leave their overall points as 460-461; tries 63-61; try-bonus points 7; losing-bonus points three; league points 58 - 13 more than 2017-2018.

Newbridge can still be overtaken by Bedlinog, who are five points adrift with games at Tata Steel on Wednesday and at home to Cardiff Metropolitan University on May 5.

However, no matter which position they finish in, the season has certainly been much better considering they only escaped relegation at the end of 2016-2017 by winning their final two matches.

WRU National League Division Three A: Abergavenny maintained top place by thrashing relegation-threatened hosts Blackwood Stars 101-5.

Sunday, April 29 fixtures: WRU National Cup final: Newport v Merthyr (5.35pm).

National Plate final: Brynmawr v Nant Conwy (3.15pm) (both at the Principality Stadium).