Division Four South-West

Cwmgors 12 Cwmavon 16

CWMGORS’ title hopes took a knock with defeat in a quagmire at Parc y Werin.

But a losing bonus points from this disappointing defeat means the Cherries can still win the title if they avoid defeat in their last league fixture tonight at home against Pyle – one point will guarantee the Amman Valley men the title.

If Saturday’s match had been held in mid-season, the wet, windy and sometimes dangerous conditions might well have had the game called off.

But, due to the fixture backlog, both sides commendably decided to go for it, although the boggy conditions certainly didn’t suit a free-flowing Cwm side with a big Pyle pack flourishing on the heavy, strength-sapping pitch.

Outside half Steff Rees – one of Cwmgors’ players of the season – opened the scoring with an early penalty.

But fourth-placed Cwmavon began to dominate up-front and earned a series of penalties which gradually took them 9-3 ahead.

On the stroke of half-time in a match which inevitably produced very few try-scoring openings, Cwmavon managed to grab a score with virtually their first real sortie on the Cherries’ tryline – a slippery ball and dropped passes blighting a difficult game.

Playing against a strong wind in the second-half, Cwmgors doggedly narrowed the gap with a second Rees penalty.

The visitors finished the stronger in tiring conditions and a drop-goal and late penalty sealed the win.

This means Cwmgors have to keep the champagne on ice for another four days at least.

However, they will need no reminding that their destiny remains in their own hands at Parc y Werin this evening (kick-off 7pm).

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