Merthyr have sealed their place in the Principality Premiership play-offs after a 34-23 victory over Aberavon.
The win kept Merthyr top of the pile among the Premiership Tier 1 clubs and almost certainly guarantees them a home semi-final.
The Wizards are back in third and need to beat second-place Bedwas on Saturday to secure a home semi-final.
There are just one round of matches left for the clubs in the top tier and also for six of the clubs in the bottom tier. Llanelli and Swansea have now completed their matches, with Swansea remaining in bottom spot.
The Tier 1 semi-finals are now being fought out by six clubs. The Tier 2 semi-finals are being fought out by five clubs.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP
LEADING POINTS SCORERS (TOP 8)
PTS
80 – Matthew Jarvis (Merthyr)
69 – Richard Powell (Bedwas)
60 – Jack Maynard (Llandovery)
52 – Jacob Botica (RGC)
45 – Ceri Sweeney (Pontypridd)
27 – Josh Lewis (Ebbw Vale), Stef Williams (Aberavon)
25 – Steff Marshall (Carmarthen Quins)
24 – James Garland (Aberavon)
TRIES
4 – Tom Daley (Merthyr), Dale Stuckey (Pontypridd), Stef Andrews (Aberavon),
Jay Baker (Aberavon), Pat Lewis (Bedwas), Matthew John (Bedwas), Gary Williams (Pontypridd)
3 – Lewis I.Williams (Pontypridd), Richard Carter (Merthyr), Kyle Evans (Merthyr),
Rhys Williams (RGC-wing), Mike Evans (Llandovery), Aaron Warren (Llandovery), Nathan Trevett (Merthyr)
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP – 2016-17.
TOP EIGHT
……………………P…..W…..D……L…..F…….A…….T….Bon….Pts
Merthyr………….6……5……0……1..220…106…..28…….5…..25
Bedwas………….6……5…..0……1..159…118…..18……..2…..22
Aberavon……….6……4…..0……2…146…131…..20…….4…..20
Pontypridd……..6……3……0……3..147…133…..19…….3…..15
RGC……………..6……3……0……3..139…144…..17…….3…..15
Ebbw Vale………6…..2……0……4..116…125…..14…….5…..13
Llandovery……..6……2…..0……4..123….221…..14…….1…….9
CarmarthenQns.6…..0…..0……6..109….181…..12…….2…….2
———————————————————————————–
LEADING SCORERS (BOTTOM 8)
PTS
84 – Ed Howley (Neath)
56 – Jamie Murphy (Bridgend)
42 – Josh Prosser (Cross Keys)
37 – Gareth Thompson (Cardiff)
26 – Ioan Hughes (Llanelli)
25 – Callum Jones (Bargoed)
TRIES
4 – Jack Condy (Llanelli), Ed Howley (Neath), Will Rees-Hole (Cardiff),
3 – Jamie Murphy (Bridgend), Llwyd ap Myrddin (Newport), Tom Rogers (Llanelli),
Ryan Davies (Llanelli), Callum Jones (Bargoed), Aaron Grabham (Neath)
BOTTOM EIGHT.
……………………P…..W…..D……L…..F…….A…….T….Bon….Pts
Newport…………6……5…..0……1..119……78…..15……2…..22
Llanelli…………..7……4…..0……3..172…..122….24……5…..21
Bridgend………..6….. 4…..0……2..149….114…..18……4…..20
Neath…………….6……3…..1……2..186….131…..23……5 ….19
Cross Keys…….6……4…..0……2…..97….111…..11….. 1…. 17
Bargoed…………6……2…..0……4….98….173…..14……3…..11
Cardiff……………6……1…..0……5…126….134….14……5…….9
Swansea………..7……1…..1……5…104….188….13……3…….9
