WELSH Rugby Union founding club Usk RFC celebrated the club’s 150th anniversary by beating mid-table Cwmbran 21-18 at home on Saturday before an anniversary brunch at the clubhouse the following day.

The first recorded fixture for Usk RFC was against Newport in 1874, and the club was a founder member of the WRU when it was formed in Neath seven years later.

Playing fields, changing rooms and headquarters have changed over the years, with pubs, the town hall, the drill hall and even the local prison called upon as changing rooms and meeting places over its long history.

The present playing field, known as "Red Shed Meadow" has been Usk RFC's home for the last 72 years, after former Wales player Ewan Davies saw an advert in the Western Mail offering a riverside field for sale in 1952, bought it and donated it to the club.

With the aid of a loan from the WRU, a grant from the National Playing Field Association and monies raised locally, it was then possible to plan and construct a clubhouse and adjoining changing rooms, built by club members and opened on Wednesday, September 12, 1956 after a celebratory match against a Newport XV by Ewan Davies.

On the field, Saturday's third win of the season lifted the club to sixth in WRU East 2.

Elsewhere, Chepstow also secured a third win over New Panteg in E3, a late Rhys Brown try securing a 19-14 result after two tries from Sam Thomas.

But their 2nds lost out 35-5 at home to Blackwood Griffins, Nasia Nicoll with the consolation try.

Monmouth School's 1st XV also went down 38-20 away to King's School Worcester, but will be looking to bounce back at home to Dean Close this Saturday (November 16), kick-off 2.30pm.

Other games that afternoon include Risca v Usk, Abertysswg v Chepstow, Chepstow 2nds v Ynysddu 2nds.