CROSS Keys head coach Greg Woods was delighted with his side after their fourth league win in a row.

Keys were made to work hard by a young, spirited Wanderers side but ended up coming away with a comprehensive 24-8 triumph.

Missing a number of first choice players, the hosts were forced to promote youth team players into the fray.

But any thoughts that this would be a boys against men affair were quickly dispelled as Wanderers showed they were up for the fight.

But Keys’ power told in the end as their most potent weapon, their scrum, took its brutal toll on the Cardiff side.

One Wanderers fan was heard to utter in despair early on, “We’re getting marmalised in the scrum” and his assessment was spot on.

Woods praised his props, loosehead Richard Cornock and tighthead Marc Jones, for their five-star performances.

“I thought they – and Richard Emms at hooker – were magnificent. This was a very good away victory and shows how far we’ve come – we wouldn’t have won this last year.”

He added they had trained hard for Saturday’s match, knowing Wanderers would give them a tough game.

Woods believes the bottom side will stay up this season, predicting tough matches for all who head to Ely’s Memorial Ground.

“We didn’t show any disrespect to Wanderers and trained hard because we know they are fighting for their lives,” he said.

“The trap door is under them and there’s a hard game in store for every team coming here this season – I think they will stay up.”

It was a game littered with errors and a largely forgettable first half ended with Keys leading 9-3 thanks to three penalties from their outside-half Gareth David.

Wanderers’ points came from their No 10 Tomas Marks slotting over a penalty.

Wanderers Joe Xiberras, who played a game for Keys earlier in the season, gave the home side hopes of an upset when he roared home virtually unopposed in the 54th minute courtesy of a Keys error. Wing Jamie Davies’ chip near the halfway line was caught by the hosts’ centre who ran in for a try. Marks narrowly missed the conversion that would have given them the lead.

It marked the high point of Wanderers’ day as Keys turned the tide, taking the game by the scruff of the neck and scoring three unanswered tries.

No 8 Marc Popham scored in the 58th minute after a neat move from the back of their dominant scrum.

Keys scrum-half Ryan James fed Tom Lampard who put Popham over in the corner with Wanderers’ blindside Reuben Tucker missing, just yellow carded for infringing in a ruck.

The excellent Popham got his second eight minutes later as Keys pounded the Wanderers line.

Davies made amends for his mistake when he completed the scoring a minute from time with their third unconverted try.

Glamorgan Wanderers: E Jones, R Budina, J Xiberras, G Morris (O Marshall 75), T Marks (L Williams 60), T Rowlands, G Tedstone (S Simpson 60), M Sheppard, M O’Leary (M Lewis 40), R Thomas (Capt), E Morris, R Tucker, D Crimmins (N Hampson 50), B White.

Scorers: Try – J Xiberras, Penalty – T Marks.

Cross Keys: R Lee (P Williams 52), J Davies, L Andrews, N Williams (M Mangeolles 80), N Trowbridge, G David, R James (O Jones 69), R Cornock, R Emms (J Sollis 80), M Jones (N Jones 80), D Hodge (C Bridges 80), T Lampard, R Peebles (M Curtis 50), M Popham, R Nash (Capt).

Scorers: Tries – M Popham (2), J Davies, Penalties – G David (3).

Referee: David Jones (Pontllanfraith) Argus star men: Richard Cornock & Marc Jones