Caerphilly retained their Welsh Premier Division status as they completed an emphatic play-off victory over First Division champions Aberavon at Virginia Park on Friday night.

Leading just 17-13 after the first leg on Sunday, Caerphilly outscored the Wizards by six tries to two on the night to ensure another season in the top flight with a 49-14 victory - 66-27 on aggregate.

Luke Richards was the Caerphilly hero, the diminutive fly-half scoring a try and kicking five conversions and three penalties for a personal haul of 24 points.

Caerphilly captain David Hawkins admitted his side were relieved to have ended the season on such a high note after a largely disappointing campaign which saw them finish bottom of the Welsh-Scottish League.

"I felt over the two legs we were much the better side and I don't think anyone could really argue with that," said Hawkins - whose brother Daniel was in the Aberavon line-up.

"I'm sure that Aberavon will be extremely disappointed to miss out after such a successful season but those are the rules and we have to play by them."

After an early Richards penalty Caerphilly wing Taunaholo Taufahema capitalised on an error by Aberavon centre Scott Leighton to score the game's opening try, which Richards converted.

Richards added a second penalty before flanker Simon Granger went over, the fly-half again converting to make it 20-0 on the night and give his team a 24-point cushion overall.

Caerphilly lock Paul Jones was sin binned four minutes from the interval for deliberately killing the ball and Aberavon responded with a Matthew Back try, converted by Leighton, to make it 20-7 at the interval.

With the wind at their backs Aberavon might have expected to make a real game of it but when they conceded a penalty try seven minutes after the break it was effectively all over.

Sione Tuipolutu, John Colderley and Richards himself added further tries in the final quarter to see Caerphilly safely home.