In another embarrassing blow for the Welsh Rugby Union, National League Division 7 side Porthcawl have ignited a debate insisting that Newport and not Llanelli should have been crowned the Welsh-Scottish League champions.

Porthcawl are furious at being stripped of the Division Seven Central title and promotion after being deducted points by a union disciplinary panel for calling off a match on safety grounds because they could not field a specialist front row.

The Western Mail reports that as well as asking the WRU to take the matter to the International Rugby Board after an appeal to the general committee failed last week have also brought up the issue of Llanelli's league match at Pontypridd on September 8 last year.

On that occasion the Scarlets escaped without punishment when hooker Marcus Thomas told referee Nigel Whitehouse they wanted passive uncontested scrums when Wales hooker Robin McBryde went to prop following the substitution of Martyn Madden and the sin-binning of Phil Booth.

Four scrums were held, prompting Pontypridd to lodge a complaint after losing the match 19-17. However, Llanelli escaped punishment reportedly because Whitehouse failed to consult Llanelli's stand-in skipper Leigh Davies, instead speaking to Thomas and McBryde.

If it was Davies who had told Whitehouse the Scarlets wanted passive scrums they would almost certainly have had the three points deducted, which would have handed the league title to Newport.

But Porthcawl maintain Llanelli escaped punishment because of their position in world rugby. Club representative David Evans told the newspaper, "Llanelli opted to take non-contested scrummages while a prop forward had been sin-binned.

"Premier League rules offer no discretion in such circumstances. The side making such an election are unable to earn any league points.

"But Llanelli have been permitted to keep the points they received because of their win. If the rules had been applied as they are written, the points would have been deducted and Newport would now be champions.

"This point was made at our recent presentation to the WRU general committee. It chose to ignore it in giving its written reasons for rejecting our appeal but give no valid reason why.

"That suggests to me it applies different standards and interpretations depending upon the status and history of the club. They have history and status and are known worldwide. We are just a lowly Mid Glamorgan outfit. But we are both equal members of the WRU and to so treat us differently is appalling.

"National League rules offer the WRU a discretion to act in cases such as ours. The league mnagement committee should investigate all circumstances and if satisfied that they are exceptional apply the appropriate decision.

"Our case was exceptional. There was a genuine shortage and we were concerned about the welfare and safety of our players at all times."