THINGS are just champion once more for Nant Conwy.
Wrexham had the trickiest of tasks in attempting to stop last season’s champions from retaining their Division One North crown.
The top-four chasing visitors gave their all during a competitive contest, but it was Nant who came out on top 31-16 to seal the deal.
Nant Conwy had triumphed 66-0 at Wrexham just weeks earlier in a cup clash, but they didn’t have things all their own way in this league match-up, with their opponents in touch at the interval.
Jacob Hughes’ penalty nudged Wrexham into an early lead and it was 6-0 when Hughes nailed a second successful kick in the 13th minute.
Nant responded in fine fashion with three tries in the space of just six minutes, two of which were converted.
However, Wrexham weren’t about to throw in the towel and Nick Dodd grabbed a try after half-an-hour.
Hughes added the conversion points and he also kicked his third penalty to reduce the deficit to just three points at the midway point.
Nant’s fourth try two minutes after the restart sealed the bonus point they required to make sure of the title. The champions would add one further converted try to complete the scoring.
Pwllheli made sure of the runners-up spot with their 14-7 victory against third-placed Caernarfon.
Wrexham Athletic maintained their hopes of taking the Division Three North East title as they got the better of Shotton Steel 26-19. Ruthin Athletic defeated Bro Gwernant 73-7 in their meeting.
Newtown made sure of promotion from Division Two North as they edged out third-placed Teirw Nant Conwy 17-15.
Two tight tussles got the Super Rygbi Cymru play-offs underway.
Bridgend triumphed 13-10 at Aberavon, while Carmarthen Quins defeated Pontypool 25-21.
League winners Cardiff is the quarter-final destination for Quins, while Bridgend go to Ebbw Vale.
Bala beat Machynlleth 29-17 to win the WRU Women’s Bowl final at the Principality Stadium.
In an entertaining encounter that launched a series of four women’s matches in Cardiff, including two internationals, Bala led 19-0 at the start of the second half after tries from full back Siwan Davies, number eight Sara Jones and flanker Efa Jones.
But, they had to earn their victory after a fightback from Machynlleth with wing Fflur Jones scoring in between a brace from fellow wing Gwenllian Mason. Replacement Leah Roberts and number eight Jones made sure of victory with second half tries.
Bala went into the game as firm favourites following a 43-0 win over Machynlleth earlier in the WRU North Wales league season, yet there’s just a point separating them in the table.
Flanker Jones was named in the Wales U18 training squad and made her impact in the game by breaking through the Machynlleth defence to provide the attacking platform for full back Davies to score in the eighth minute.
After being named in the Wales U21 squad by Liza Burgess, number eight Jones powered through the Machynlleth defence for her side’s second try after 23 minutes. Openside Jones picked up a try in the 45th minute after breaking through two tackles, before Machynlleth wing Mason brilliantly finished off a brilliant solo try by beating two defenders for pace before stepping the full back to score.
Replacement Roberts picked up her side’s fourth try on the hour mark before Machynlleth fought back with wing Jones continuing her try-scoring form.
Mason picked up her second score in the final 10 minutes to leave a seven-point margin. But Bala had the final say through Sara Jones who went around a couple of defenders to score her second try of the game.
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