PROLIFIC try-scorer Lenny Woodard came up trumps again as Newbridge continued their bid to land top spot in the SWALEC League Division One East table.

Last season’s runners-up are up a place to third behind UWIC and Bargoed, thanks to a comfortable 35-5 home victory over Merthyr.

Woodard has scored more tries than any other player in the league’s 10-year-old history, and his effort at the Welfare Ground took his tally to 148.

The right-winger, who also plays as a centre, could reach the 150-milestone when Newbridge visit Rumney on Saturday.

“Lennie (Woodard) has done extremely well for us, but this was a very good all-round performance,” said Newbridge team manager Chris Jones.

“The victory was built on an outstanding performance by our pack of forwards, who were excellent in the line-out.”

Besides Woodard, prop forward Will Griffiths, Mark Thorley plus skipper and number eight Ross Coombs also scored touchdowns, with outside-half Danny Ellis on form with the boot in kicking a hat trick of conversions and penalties.

Hard on the heels of Newbridge are county rivals and 2008-09 champions Blackwood, who posted a fourth consecutive win – this time 16-10 at home against Rumney.

In terms of points scoring, inside-centre Gareth Price was Blackwood’s star man in bagging them all with a try, a conversion and a trio of penalties.

Like Newbridge, they too moved up a position to fourth and both camps have an eye on the club’s much-awaited November 14 clash.

However, while the pair are on the up, promoted Tredegar are still finding life tough at the higher level and they fell a position to ninth of 12 following a disappointing 36-5 home defeat at the hands of Bargoed.

Tredegar’s only score came from a try by centre Luke James, although by then they were already 26-0 adrift of the visitors.

There was a local derby in Division Two East between Newport Saracens and Brynmawr, with the visitors emerging 27-6 victors to move up to fifth.

“We are delighted with the result and our recent form because everyone wrote us off not so very long ago,” said Brynmawr coach Carl Martin.

“This was a very good display, with skipper and second row Damian Hudd in inspirational form, and our entire squad now believes in itself.”

Hudd (2), number eight Gareth Morris and left-winger Richard Denington crossed for five-pointers for Brynmawr.

Full back Matthew Jordan completed his side’s scoring by kicking two conversions and a penalty, while for the Sarries, centre Darryl Carter landed two penalties.

“Brynmawr were deserving winners, but we suffered by having flanker Larry Williams sin-binned at a crucial stage of the game,” revealed Sarries secretary Mark Leverson.

“We don’t have a game now for another two weeks and that will hopefully give us the chance to get some of our long-term injured playing.”

Garndiffaith celebrated a second win in three matches and moving off the foot of the table following a 14-11 home success over Llantrisant, who are now bottom.

“We are very pleased that we are now up and running and the confidence is starting to grow now among our players,” said Garn coach Dorian Green.

Garn scored touchdowns through second-row forward Gareth Lear (2) and a penalty try, with a couple of conversions coming from Clayton Gullin.

In Division Three East, leaders Fleur-de-Lys prevailed 22-15 at home against Tredegar Ironsides, with Paul Emanuelli scoring all the points with a try, four penalties, a conversion and a drop goal.

There was something of a shock at the bottom, Newport HSOB beating fifth-placed visitors Nelson 23-14.

However, the biggest upset of the day came in Division Four East. In-form table-toppers Talywain would have been nailed on to beat hosts and basement outfit Crumlin.

However, tries by Matthew Lawrence and Robert Vaughan plus eight points from the boot of Greg Jones earned the underdogs a famous 18-13 success.

Oakdale remain top dogs in Division Five East thanks to a 22-13 victory at Bettws, with Pontllanfrath still rooted to the bottom following an 11-0 home defeat at the hands of Trinant.

In Division Five South-East, Blackwood Stars remain top and unbeaten, but lost their 100 percent record in drawing 8-8 draw at Senghenydd.

Division Six East leaders Cefn Fforest’s scheduled home fixture with Abertysswg fell victim to inclement weather, while bottom-placed Blaina United went down 5-3 against visiting Forgeside.

Another surprise result produced a 36-15 home reverse for Division Six South-East kings Rogerstone by Caerleon, although there’s no change at the bottom – St Julian’s HSOB thrashed 60-3 at Panteg.