Swansea bidding to seal league title in season finale

South Wales Cricket Association final weekend preview

IT’S do or die for Swansea tomorrow as the division one title is decided on the last day of the South Wales Cricket Association season.

The St Helen’s club hold all the aces going into their home clash against Clydach, knowing that even if they were to lose the championship could still be theirs.

That’s because second-placed Tata Steel have to win at Maesteg Celtic and hope for a major Swansea slip-up to sneak up on the rails capture the crown from under the noses of the current leaders.

There is also a very, very slim chance that Neath could come into the reckoning but they would have to thrash Pontardawe and the top two would have to lose, Swansea without picking up hardly any bonus points.

Neath could well dish out a hammering to relegated Pontardawe, especially on home turf, but, barring a big case of the jitters, Swansea should beat Clydach and secure a return to the Swalec Premier League for next season.

Dafen, long-time leaders until very recently, only have pride left to play for when they host Gowerton. The match could have easily been a title decider for Dafen only for their form to desert them badly over the last month.

In the other game tomorrow, mid-table Ynystawe entertain Llangennech, who along with Pontardawe will be playing in division two in 2013.

The ups and downs have been decided in the second division with Carmarthen Wanderers crowned champions last weekend and Cowbridge also promoted. There will be some big celebrations in the Vale of Glamorgan as the two go head-to-head to round-off a successful campaign for both clubs.

On the other hand, Morriston and Briton Ferry Steel haven’t got much to celebrate but they will look to end disappointing seasons on a positive note with matches at Llandysul and Aberdare respectively.

Elsewhere, Skewen host Llanelli and Bronwydd welcome Gorseinon with a lot of movement in the table expected by the close of play as 32 points separate third to eighth place.

While Briton Ferry Steel are moving down, local rivals Briton Ferry Town are going in the opposite direction having clinched the division three title. They are more than likely to be joined by Swansea Civil Service, who mathematically can still be caught by Porthcawl.

Town take on Drefach, Civil Service go to Pontyberem and Porthcawl visit Hills Plymouth. Pwll, who are already down, visit Margam and Maesteg need a couple of points against Landore to condemn them to the drop.

The honour of becoming division four champions is a straight two-way shoot-out between leaders Cimla and Dyffryn with just two points the difference going into the final weekend.

Cimla have the easier task of the two with a home game against one-from-bottom Llandarcy while Dyffryn entertain Ystradgynlais. There’s a slim possibility Baglan, away to Felinfoel, could pip Dyffryn for second place but it’s highly unlikely.

Meanwhile, Llantwit Major Cavaliers face Neath thirds and Llandeilo visit bottom side Kidwelly Town.