BLACKWOOD bid to climb off the bottom of the Championship when they make the trip to Gwent rivals Pontypool tomorrow afternoon, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Glan-yr-Afon Park outfit dropped to the basement after being overpowered at Bargoed last weekend but their fate is in their own hand.

They trail Bonymaen by three points and Beddau by four but they have a game in hand on the former and another on the latter.

But Blackwood, who have not won successive games all season, need to string together a run of wins to save their bacon.

Matthew Veater's side led 20-10 early in the second half when the teams met earlier in the season only to be hit by 15 unanswered Pontypool points.

They could do with at least bagging another bonus point if they are to keep things alive ahead of their last-day showdown with Bonymaen at Glan-yr-Afon Park.

Sixth-placed Pooler have had a much better season than 2012/13 but their hopes of finishing second are fading after recording just one win in their last six.

Newbridge are unlikely to be dragged into the relegation scrap but could do with another win to ease any lingering fears.

They will have to perform well if they are to do that this weekend when they welcome Narberth, who are in the mix for the runners-up spot behind Ebbw Vale, to the Welfare Ground.

'Bridge were edged out by second-placed RGC 1404 last time out but at least had a losing bonus point to show for their efforts while Narberth have struggled on their travels since the turn of the year, losing in north Wales, Pontypool and Bargoed.

Ebbw Vale will attempt to take their Swalec Cup frustration out on Tata Steel as they continue their march towards the title.

The Steelmen's hopes of heading to the Premiership as cup winners were ended at the quarter-final stage by Llandovery at Eugene Cross Park last Saturday.

Now their focus for the rest of the campaign is to return to the top flight having won all of their Championship games with tomorrow's trip to Port Talbot the first of eight remaining games.

Other fixtures: Beddau v RGC 1404, Bridgend Athletic v Bonymaen, Llanharan v Bargoed, Tondu v Cardiff Met