Rugby Union Round-up: Seventh fifty takes Llanelli back to the top

LLANELLI shrugged off the absence of four players at the Hong Kong Sevens to claim their seventh Heineken League half-century of the season and take over from inactive Swansea at the top. Wales' new hooker Andrew Lamerton and rising No 8 Scott Quinnell crossed twice apiece as Maesteg were seen off 58-12.

Rising even faster than Quinnell are Dunvant, who became the first junior club to secure promotion to the First Division by winning 14-6 at Tredegar, while their closest rivals Llanharan and Cross Keys were drawing 13-13.

In the Courage First Division, Rugby were relegated after falling 32-21 at home to Bristol, whose recovery was spearheaded by a second-half hat-trick from flanker Derek Eves. Orrell trailed 8-0 at Kingsholm, but Dewi Morris celebrated Lions selection with a try as they hit back to beat Gloucester 13-8 and leave their victims in trouble. Gloucester's worries were deepened by the Battle of the Exiles at Richmond. Two tries from Lindsay Renwick, the second in the last 10 minutes, helped London Scottish fight back for a 28-21 win over London Irish.

Four-try second halves were decisive in the Second. Newcastle Gosforth's quartet in the 32-6 beating of Fylde was enough to displace Waterloo at the top while Moseley's four kept their survival hopes alive as they came from behind to beat Blackheath 23-6. But Coventry were doomed to the Third by Andy Finnie's 25 points in Bedford's 30-15 win. Havant beat Clifton 17-6 to lead the Third with Otley, 61-6 winners over Askeans, in hot pursuit.

In Scotland, Stirling County beat Boroughmuir 33-6 to stay in the McEwan's First Division while Glasgow High/Kelvinside go down with Dundee HSFP after losing 20-18 at Currie.

All three home sides made it to the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Sevens as the formbook ruled. Ireland beat the host team 24-0 and Italy 7-5 to join the Welsh President's VII, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Western Samoa, South Africa and the holders Fiji in the last eight.