Cross Keys RFC suffered a 48-17 defeat to rivals Ebbw Vale in the Principality Premiership on Saturday, February 16.
Ebbw Vale scored seven tries to earn themselves a bonus-point win, while Cross Keys slip back into the relegation zone.
A penalty from Ebbw Vale’s Rhys Jones opened the scoring in the ninth minute, with winger Toby Fricker scoring the first try of the game four minutes later.
Jones added the conversion, with Ebbw Vale marching into a 10-0 lead.
Jones was on point once again when he converted Lewis Young’s 17th minute try.
Ebbw Vale’s lead was extended further through Owen Young, but Jones was unable to add two more points from the conversion attempt.
With a minute remaining of the first half, scrum-half David Jones scored a try to round off a miserable first half for the Keys.
Rhys Jones made no mistake from the kicking tee and Ebbw Vale went into the break with a 29-0 lead and a bonus point secured.
Ebbw Vale’s ruthless streak continued as Kristian Parker scored his side’s fifth try of the game to take a 34-0 lead.
Cross Keys finally got their first points on the board when Joshua Guy crossed over the line for a try. Iwan Burgwin was successful with the conversion.
The hosts scored their second try in the 63rd minute through substitute Rory Budina.
But the away team pounced back and scored their sixth try just two minutes later, with Rhys Jones successfully converting Rhys Clarke’s try.
Cross Keys’ day got even worse when substitute Elis Hopkins was shown a yellow card and sent to the sidelines for ten minutes.
Ebbw Vale made the most of having an extra man and scored try number seven through Paul King. Jones added another two points to his tally to give his side a 48-12 advantage.
Cross Keys winger Carwyn Penny added a consolation try in the dying moments, but it did little to affect the outcome of the match.
Ebbw Vale secured maximum points from the game but remain fourth in the table, while Cross Keys slip to 12th.
Cross Keys travel to face 10th-place Swansea on Thursday, February 21, hoping to secure vital points in their bid to beat the drop and retain their Principality Premiership status.