Ebbw Vale missed the chance to secure first place in Super Rygbi Cymru after being stunned by Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) at Eugene Cross Park.<\/p>\n
Second-placed Cardiff closed the gap to three points by beating Newport on Thursday night and the Steelmen could not respond when suffering a second home defeat on the bounce.<\/p>\n
RGC climbed to fifth in the table with an impressive 18-10 win earned by tries from wing Caio Parry and scrum-half Conor Dever plus eight points from the boot of fly-half Billy McBryde.<\/p>\n
The north Walians go into the final round of fixtures, when they host Bridgend in Colwyn Bay, with the aim of retaining sixth place to avoid the wildcard round of the play-offs.<\/p>\n
Ebbw Vale, meanwhile, need to win at Carmarthen Quins if they are to avoid being pipped to first place by Cardiff, who finish at Swansea.<\/p>\n
The Blue and Blacks secured a top-two finish \u2013 and potentially a home semi-final \u2013 but beating Newport 40-27 thanks to tries by flanker Ben Fry (2), wing Tom Bowen, centre Steffan Emanuel and full-back Matty Young.<\/p>\n
Flanker Hunter Ward (2) and wing Chay Foster-Smith went over for the Black and Ambers, who can seal third place with victory against Pontypool when they defend the SRC Challenger Shield at Rodney Parade on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Fourth-placed Llandovery failed to overtake Newport after falling to a surprise 40-24 defeat at bottom club Pooler.<\/p>\n
The Gwent side recorded a fourth success of the campaign by running in six tries to leave the Drovers, who did earn a four-try bonus, with work to do at Aberavon next weekend if they are to avoid the chance of Swansea overtaking them.<\/p>\n
That is despite the fifth-placed Whites falling to a 34-33 defeat by Bridgend in Dunvant, wing Cameron Ellis getting the winning try for the Ravens.<\/p>\n
Aberavon won 20-15 at seventh-placed Carmarthen Quins, who now need to beat pace-setting Ebbw Vale next week if they are to stand any chance of leapfrogging RGC to avoid the wildcard round.<\/p>\n