DIVISION One East promotion- seekers Newbridge returned to winning ways with a narrow home success, but team manager Chris Jones was far from happy when calling for the Welsh Rugby Union to make a front-row forward rule change.

Blackwood remain fourth following a fine home victory over former leaders Merthyr, while there was heartbreak for bottom-placed Newport Saracens, who threw away a 13-point lead before slipping to a ninth straight defeat.

But it was at the Welfare Ground where controversy reared its ugly head following Newbridge’s 31-28 win over the students of UWIC.

Jones was dismayed that the capital-based opponents called for passive scrums following an injury to one of their props, a move which took away the Gwent side’s strongest game tool.

“We were in the ascendancy up front and going really well when, in my opinion, they pulled what is fast becoming a bit of a normality – drag off a prop and call for passive scrums,” said a hugely disappointed Jones.

“Something should be done about this and I firmly believe the law-makers should look at what’s going on and act accordingly.”

On the game itself, Jones said his side got “dragged into a seven-a-side game” by the students, who are well known for an expansive game, no matter what the occasion.

“Suddenly we were playing finger-touch rugby and that played right into their hands. We got home in the end, but it was a close-run thing.”

Indeed it was, because only a converted try from outside-half Richard Powell two minutes from time helped Newbridge recover from the previous week’s defeat at Merthyr.

Other Newbridge try-scorers were wingers Ceri Young and Lenny Woodard, plus flanker Nicky Tucker with Powell also landing a penalty and a quartet of conversions. Newbridge travel to Caerphilly on Friday, kick-off 7.15pm.

Blackwood hosted Merthyr and stormed to a fine 24-16 victory with tries from outside- half Keith Perry, blindside flanker Mark Birkby and scrum-half Andrew Coupe and two penalties by Gavin Price.

The Sarries looked well on their way to a first win of the season when they went 23-10 up against visiting leaders Bargoed. However, losing lock Rhys Reynolds to injury and scrum-half Tyrone Mahoney to the sin bin at the same time gave the table-toppers the motivation required to go on and gain a sixth victory from eight starts.

“We are so disappointed in what happened,” said Sarries secretary Mark Leverson. “Without doubt we were playing our best rugby of the season and the loss of those two players was a crucial factor in the final outcome.

“But we are not too down-hearted because we could see our new signings were making a huge contribution to us looking more like a team.”

The Sarries picked up two bonus points and scored tries via second-row forward John Cozzi, centre Stephen Taylor, winger Andrew Dare and Mahoney, with Owain Biddlescombe kicking two penalties and a conversion.

In Division Two East, Tredegar sit proudly at the top on their own after winning 18-3 at Llantrisant, who they previously headed on try count only.

Not only was it a magnificent victory, but one that also finally buried a few myths and ghosts of the past as Tredegar Supporters Club secretary Alan Medleycott explains.

“Llantrisant have been our bogey side for a number of years and we’ve gone down to defeat there on numerous ocassion after outplaying them.

“But at last this was our day, and I must say it was fully deserved.

“We played really well, and while no-one is getting too excited at this stage of the season, it is nice to see us out on our own at the top.”

Dyfed James and Matthew Taylor were Tredegar’s five-point scorers, with outside-half Darren Pearce successful with a conversion and a couple of penalties.

Second-from-bottom Abergavenny had only a try by winger Jamie Smith and a penalty from outside-half Steve Lang to show for it in losing 25-8 at home to Bedlinog, Fleur-de-Lys lost 38-20 on the road – but Brynmawr are second after a fine away success.

Flower outside-half Brett Green crossed for a try and also kicked two conversions and as many penalties, with openside flanker Nathan Jenkins also touching down while flanker full back Matthew Bow, hooker Gareth Coles and winger Craig Lewis scored tries in Brynmawr’s 24-18 win at Mountain Ash, where Bow also struck a penalty and a trio of conversions.

Division Three East leaders Garndiffaith won 38-28 at bottom-placed Pill Harriers, while in Division Four East, Nantyglo, 24-17 home winners over Machen, still head the table while not-in-action Cwmbran still prop it up.

Abercarn won for a seventh straight time, 35-10 at Caldicot, to remain at the summit of the Division Five East section, with bottom-placed Bettws gaining only their second point of the season following a 13-13 home draw with RTB Ebbw Vale.

Blackwood Stars remain top dogs in Division Six East thanks to a 24-19 success at St Julians HSOB, while basement outfit New Panteg remain rooted to the bottom following a 24-7 home defeat at the hands of Whiteheads.