Triple bypassed!

All three lost, with Tredegar putting up a spirited fight, but despite taking the lead they were defeated 26-3 by a very strong Maesteg side.

Brynmawr were desperately unlucky to lose a very close game with Bonymaen 20-16, while Blackwood's poor form continues with them losing 43-9 to Llanharan.

However, despite their losing 26-3, Tredegar Press secretary Carl Pickering was still pleased with his side's performance.

"The score suggests we got thrashed, but it was a lot closer and we were relatively pleased with the outcome," he said.

"We played a top team and coped very well. We have a new coaching set-up here and some new players, and it is going to take everyone time to get used to that.

"The club is starting to get it together. We had a full squad with a full complement of substitutes, and compared to a month ago, when it was looking desperate, we are now a lot healthier."

Matthew Penny scored their only points of the game with a drop goal, but Maesteg responded with 19 unanswered points before half-time.

Brynmawr were trailing 12-3 at half-time, but despite a spirited second-half display they could not overcome a strong Bonymaen side.

Matthew Williams scored their only try, with Jason Williams sending over three penalties and one conversion.

Blackwood's poor run continues after they were thrashed 43-9 at Llanharan. The turning-point in the game came after captain Craig Clemence was sent to the sin-bin for the Gwent side.

Llanharan took full advantage, with Mark Davies scoring a personal haul of 23 points to help his side to victory.

In Division Two East, Gwent sides did slightly better.

Fleur-de-Lys claimed a memorable win, scoring an injury-time try to beat Merthyr 15-14.

Paul Miller scored it, touching down after the Merthyr scrum-half had lost the ball from a five- metre scrum.

Romley Barnett and Glen George scored their other two tries.

Risca v Penygraig, on the other hand, was anything but tight, with the Gwent side scoring 12 tries on the way to their 76-10 rout.

Captain Steve Barnes led by example, scoring four tries, and back-row forwards Ross Madden and Phil Jones both grabbed a couple of tries each against a depleted Penygraig side.

Gareth Evans kicked eight of the 12 conversions to end with a haul of 16 points for his side as they move up to fifth with a game in hand.

Croesyceiliog couldn't make it a hat trick for Gwent sides, though, slumping to a disappointing 11-3 defeat at Builth Wells.

Outside-half Phil Daunter scored their only points of the game.

In Division Three East, the big game of the day was the Gwent derby between top-of-the-table Cwmbran and Pill Harriers.

And in a tight game it was Pill who staged a dramatic second-half comeback to leave Cwmbran gutted.

Darryl Carter scored all of Cwmbran's points, and they led 10-3 with less than ten minutes to go.

But two late tries from Pill gave them a superb 15-10 victory over the Gwent neighbours.

Elsewhere in the division, Newport High School Old Boys slumped to a disappointing 36-15 defeat at Senghenydd.

Prop forward Scott Robertson and Matthew Clemence grabbed a try each, with Ryan Jones sending over one conversion and one penalty, but it was all to no avail.

Pontypool United also lost, scoring two penalties in their 21-6 defeat, while Talywain could only muster just the one try in their 35-5 defeat against Old Illtydians.

Newport Saracens had to call off their game against Abergavenny because the Gwent side have a major injury crisis and could not field a front row.

And New Tredegar, who were due to play Llanhilleth, called off their game so that they could watch England triumph in the World Cup final.

* For full results on all our Gwent sides from the Premier Division down to Division Five East turn to page 12 of the sports supplement.

* For more local rugby round-ups and match reports from Divisions Two East, Three East, Four East and Five East, don't miss our Local Rugby extra every Wednesday in your South Wales Argus.