Premiership round up – 30/12/17
The extended sixteen club Premiership got underway on Saturday 30th December, combining the previous east and west conferences.
It was business as usual for the two teams that topped the east and west tables, both Merthyr and RGC recording bonus points wins to head the new Premiership rankings. Merthyr scored seven tries as they beat Cross Keys by 43pts to 10 at Y Wern, whilst RGC posted an emphatic 47pts to 14 home win over Bridgend.
Pontypridd stayed in touch with a 29pts to 20 bonus point win at home against Bedwas. Llandovery were convincing 30pts to 7 home winners against Aberavon whilst Carmarthen Quins edged a tight 24pts to 23 home victory over Swansea.
In the Severnside derby Newport claimed a bonus point as they saw off Cardiff by 29pts to 17 whilst Ebbw Vale overturned a 6pts to 10 interval deficit to beat Llanelli by 43pts to 15.
In a battle between the two clubs who had finished bottom of the east and west tables, Bargoed travelled to Neath and recorded a convincing 17pts to 40 victory with six tries scored.
Premiership Table – 30/12/17
| Team | P | W | D | L | F-A | BP | Pts | |
| 1. | RGC 1404 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 47:14 | 1 | 13 |
| 2. | Merthyr | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43:10 | 1 | 13 |
| 3. | Pontypridd | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29:20 | 1 | 12 |
| 4. | Llandovery | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30:7 | 0 | 11 |
| 5. | Carmarthen | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24:23 | 0 | 10 |
| 6. | Newport | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29:17 | 1 | 9 |
| 7. | Ebbw Vale | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43:15 | 1 | 7 |
| 8. | Bargoed | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40:17 | 1 | 6 |
| 9. | Bedwas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20:29 | 0 | 6 |
| 10. | Cardiff | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17:29 | 0 | 5 |
| 11. | Aberavon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7:30 | 0 | 5 |
| 12. | Llanelli | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15:43 | 0 | 4 |
| 13. | Swansea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23:24 | 1 | 3 |
| 14. | Bridgend | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14:47 | 0 | 3 |
| 15. | Cross Keys | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10:43 | 0 | 3 |
| 16. | Neath | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17:40 | 0 | 1 |
