The Ravens will be on a high after defying the odds with their comeback at Rodney Parade last week, and will look to build some momentum against their lowly Ospreylian region rivals, Swansea. Bridgend will still have sights on a mid-table finish and with only five points separating Ben Rose’s charges and seventh placed Cardiff, it is realistically in their grasp.
Swansea on the other hand have had one of their worst seasons in recent times; they remain rooted to the bottom of the Premiership table and without a big reversal of fortune, I think that's where they will remain. However, they are still in the Cup competition and have a home tie against Aberavon next, and depending on the draw, could have a shot at Cup glory. By no means were they blown away by leaders Pontypridd last week but at the same time, I think the best they will get out of their trip along the M4 will be a losing bonus point.
Verdict - Bridgend by 7 points
Carmarthen Quins v Llanelli
Quins will be wondering how they managed to lose from such a commanding position at Aberavon last week, while Llanelli will be patting themselves on the back for completing an Houdini act against Llandovery.
Despite that shock loss at their bogey side last week, Quins have been in fine form in all competitions, and play-off chasing Llanelli will have their work cut out if they are to continue their rise up the league.
Both sides have lost players to the Under 20’s side and it could well come down to the battle of the outside halves, with Dan Newton returning to Quins, and Owen Williams who has been starring for the Scarlets, returns to the Premiership.
I think this match will be a very keenly contested affair and I think the visitors will just steal it.
Verdict - Llanelli by 3 points
Llandovery v Cross Keys
Both sides will be wondering how they managed to lose last week, as they were each let down by ill-discipline at the sharp end of the match. The Drovers and the Keys still have a play-off place firmly in their sights, but a loss for either one here could prove to be extremely detrimental come the end of the season.
The Drovers haven’t had a great couple of weeks as they lost out by the narrowest of margins in the British and Irish Cup, ending up on the losing side despite leading against local rivals Llanelli with only minutes remaining.
Much has been said of the Keys' indiscipline of late, so much so that it's become a bit of an inside joke on twitter, with one of the Hodge brothers usually the culprit of an offence that merits a ten minute leave of absence. As much it is seen as a joke, however, if I was the Keys management I would feel severely aggrieved; they currently sit third but the Keys seem to play at least a quarter of the match with only 14 men...if they kept all 15 on the pitch, maybe the Gwent side would already have a play-off place sewn up.
So the question is will the Drovers' fall from grace come to an end? Will Keys manage to play a match with 15 men on the pitch for a full 80 minutes?
Verdict - Llandovery by 3 points
Pontypridd v Aberavon
There seems to be a certain futility to writing a prediction to this match - Ponty, the leaders, are clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the league, and the only real worry for Dale McIntosh must be complacency.
The Wizards produced a great second half comeback last week, and they will need to play at that standard for the full 80 minutes if they are to come away from Sardis Road with anything tonight.
On Ponty’s last home outing, they did leave it late to see off Newport and did just enough to dispatch Swansea a week ago, but I will be very surprised if they don’t rack up their 15thleague win of the season tonight.
Verdict - Pontypridd by 15 points
Saturday
Cardiff v Bedwas
Cardiff showed a lot of self belief to bag their win over Cross Keys last week, while Bedwas were on the wrong end of some big calls from the referee. The Gwent side have lost the last two on the bounce in the league and will be determined that their play-off push doesn’t begin to falter as we enter the final quarter of the season.
Martyn Fowler’s men on the other hand will be eyeing a top six finish and with strong home support, will surely make a firm fist of Saturday’s encounter!
Verdict - Bedwas by 5 points
Newport v Neath
The Black and Ambers are clearly a good side and should have won their last two matches against Pontypridd and Bridgend, but Sven Cronk’s men continue to push the self destruct button just as you think they are home and dry. More worryingly for the Rodney Parade outfit is that the last time they actually won a match against Premier opposition was way back in November, incidentally against Saturday’s visitors, Neath.
Neath have delivered a revival of form that Patrick Horgan was promising before Christmas, although they may have had a fair few referee decisions go their way in the past couple of matches! Despite this, Neath have, however, got a bit of momentum behind them and winning is a habit they would like to maintain.
Verdict - Newport to break their hoodoo...just by 3 points.
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