SPORTS stars battled it out in the kitchen as they took part in a pancake competition at a four-star hotel in Cwmbran last night.

Players from Newport County, Gwent Dragons and Pontypool RFC set aside sports rivalries to have a bit of fun at the Parkway Hotel as the country marked Shrove Tuesday.

Among them were County assistant manager Jimmy Dack, and team-mates Lenny Pidgeley and Jamie Stephens.

The Dragons were represented by Ashley Smith, Andrew Quick and Adam Frampton, while Pontypool RFC brought Joe Blackmore, Ryan Thomas and Luke Dyckhoff to the contest.

Chef Zak Yearsley put them through their paces at the hotel in Cwmbran Drive.

Hotel leisure club manager Sarah Higgs, 33, said before the flip off: “We thought it would be a good idea to bring the local teams and challenge them to something we have never done before.

“We have a cup here for them to win. We thought it would be good to create a bit of unity.

“Whoever makes the nicest pancakes in the allocated time wins. It is serious stuff.”