WITH Llanelli, Cross Keys and Pontypridd involved in the British & Irish Cup quarter-finals this weekend, there are only two Principality Premiership games tomorrow.
Llandovery v Bedwas, Church Bank, 2.30pm
WHILE defeat at Neath last Saturday brought Llandovery’s three-match winning run to an end, over in Cardiff, Bedwas halted their own three-game losing streak with victory at the Arms Park.
Full marks went to the Gwent club for overturning a 23-6 half-time deficit while league leaders Llandovery were put in their place at The Gnoll, losing 28-15.
For tomorrow’s encounter, Llandovery head coach Lyndon Lewis has made just two changes to the starting line-up that were beaten last time out. Adam Yelland takes over as captain and hooker from Emyr Phillips and Shaun Miles replaces Anio Senio at No 8.
There are also places on the bench for hooker Luke Lewis, back row Nio Aiono and wing Aaron Warren as Cerith Rees misses out.
Bedwas head coach Steve Law has also tinkered slightly with his starting XV with Ross Wardle and Jake Cooper-Woolley being promoted from the bench in place of Kristian Owen on the right wing and Keiron Jenkins at prop respectively.
Royce Cadman is the other change up front as Gareth Williams makes way in the second row and back row Phil Sargeant is recalled as a replacement.
When the sides met at Bridge Field back in October it was the hosts who edged it 22-19, outscoring the Drovers by three tries to one.
Expect a reaction from Llandovery following the Neath setback but if Bedwas can contain them for the first half an hour it could well be another tight affair. That said, with Lewis’ men the only top four club playing tomorrow they’ll want to take advantage and move further ahead in the table.
Verdict – Llandovery by nine points
Teams
Llandovery
L Rees; J Randall, M Jacobs, Ad Warren, S Soul; J Garland, R Walters; D Williams, A Yelland (capt), D Howells, S Jones, M Harbut, P Day, L Kendall, S Miles. Reps - W Jones, L Lewis, G Vaughan, N Aiono, P Davies, J Roberts, Aa Warren.
Bedwas
S Thomas; R Wardle, I Smerdon, D Ryan, T Watkins; R Powell, J Wood; M Pettit, A Fowler, J Cooper-Woolley, R Cadman, C Lodge, S Feehan, D Mattravers (capt), S Grainger. Reps - S Roberts, R Hutcherson, K Jenkins, B Lampitt, P Sargent, K Owen, AN Other
Bridgend v Carmarthen Quins, Brewery Field, 2.30pm
There were a few close games in the Premiership last weekend, none more so than at the Brewery Field and Pandy Park where Bridgend and Carmarthen Quins both won by a single point.
Bridgend had former Pontypridd fly-half Dai Flanagan to thank for a last-ditch penalty which saw off his old club 16-15 while Quins, despite being outscored in the try department, held off Cross Keys in a 23-22 thriller.
Victories for both clubs made sure they go into tomorrow’s clash still level on points with Bridgend fifth and Quins sixth, however, it was the visitors who won the corresponding fixture at Carmarthen Park in October, 28-14.
There are five changes to the Bridgend side that started against Pontypridd. Flanagan has a new half-back partner with Tom Grabham in for Tom Habberfield at scrum-half and Luke Morgan replaces Kristian Phillips on the wing.
The third change in the backs sees John Leyshon take over in the centre from Jamie Murphy who moves to full-back instead of Ross Jones.
Chris Francis gets the nod ahead of Jonathan Thomas at prop and captain Ben Thomas switches to lock with Lloyd Peers out and Jonathan Vaughan into the back row.
Daniel Suter, Owen Cotton, Lee Davies, Gareth Howells and Kyle Barrett are all recalled to the bench.
For Quins, Chris Banfield moves from the bench to full-back as Dan Evans drops out, Tal Selley is promoted to the wing while Rhodri Gomer-Davies takes up one of the centre berths and Gareth Morgan gets the nod over Aled Thomas at outside-half. Up front, Craig Everett slots into the back row replacing Ellis Lloyd.
This encounter is another that’s close to call, but, if Flanagan is on form again he could be the difference between two sides that have an almost identical record this season.
Verdict – Bridgend by four
Teams
Bridgend
J Murphy; S Cullen, N Edwards, J Leyshon, L Morgan; D Flanagan, T Grabham; C Francis, A Ellis, Owen Williams, B Thomas (capt), J Goode, J Vaughan, R Pitman, B Rose. Reps - M Dwyer, D Suter, O Cotton, M Llewellyn, L Davies, G Howells, K Barrett.
Carmarthen Quins
C Banfield; T Selley, A Pickersgill, R Gomer-Davies, R Thomas; G Morgan, R Richards; I Jones (capt), R Wilkes, K Jones, G Evans, H Pugh, A Thomas, C Everett, J Davies. Reps - R Evans, R Guest, L Joseph, S Phillips, R Jones, J Russell, J Howells.
By David Williams
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