BEDWAS have been relegated from the Principality Premiership after Bridgend upset the odds at Pontypridd.

The men from Bridge Field needed Ponty to beat the Ravens in order to face Pontypool in Friday’s promotion/relegation play-off at Aberavon.

But Bridgend took the spoils at Sardis Road 34-31 to not only leapfrog the Gwent side but also Llanelli, meaning that they will be the team that WRU National Championship winners Pooler will face in the shootout for the top flight.

The Ravens headed into the clash needing to bag a minimum of two points to avoid the drop and they achieved that thanks to tries by Nathan Edwards, Jamie Murphy, Gheorghe Gajion and Michael Powell and a last-gasp penalty winner from Owen Howe.

It means that Bedwas, who won eight of their last 11 to give themselves a shot at safety, will join Gwent rivals Cross Keys and Bargoed plus Neath in the 12-team championship, and also Pooler or Llanelli.

Pontypridd’s slim title hopes were ended on Friday night when Merthyr defended their crown with a dramatic 28-24 win against RGC.

The hosts edged it at the Wern thanks to a last-gasp try by Matt Dwyer, the former Pill Harriers hooker from Newport guided over a pushover try.

That meant that the Ironmen could no longer be caught by second-placed Cardiff or third-placed Ponty, who host Merthyr on Friday.

Bargoed finished life in the Premiership with a 47-26 home defeat to the Blue and Blacks.