NEATH have been busy putting out fires this week as
speculation over their long-term future, and debts they owe to the taxman,
overshadows matters on the field.
Chairman Geraint Hawkes moved quickly to quash reports the
Gnoll club was in danger of going out of business, telling fans that the money
needed to pay HMRC would be found.
The situation has reared its head in between cup and league
meetings with Pontypridd with the valleys outfit winning the former in Neath
last weekend.
Patrick Horgan’s men will have to put that, and the Welsh
All...
Friday, 30 March 2012
Trophy semi-final venues announced
THE venues for next month’s semi-finals of the Swalec Cup,
Plate and Bowl have been confirmed.
Cardiff Arms Park will host the Cup clash between Pontypridd
and Newbridge while Newport’s Rodney Parade is the location for the other tie
which sees Cross Keys face Ebbw Vale.
In the Plate, Newtown is the location for Bethesda’s
showdown against Penallta and Llanidloes is set to host Nant Conwy’s semi with
Ystrad Rhondda.
Glan-yr-Afon Park in Blackwood is the venue for the
Glyncoch-Talywain semi-final in the Bowl while Tycroes and New Tredegar will
have...
Table-toppers looking to stretch lead
CAMBRIAN & Clydach can go six points clear at the top of
the MacWhirter Welsh League first division tonight with a win at Bridgend Town.
The Rhondda side can put the pressure back on second-placed
Taffs Well, who host Goytre United tomorrow (Saturday), while Haverfordwest in
third go to Cwmbran Celtic.
Taffs Well have been free-scoring in recent weeks but were
humbled 4-1 by struggling Cardiff Corries last night as the capital city outfit
dented the visitors’ hopes of going level on points with Cambrian &
Clydach.
At the bottom, Aberaman...
Lakeside Winter League down to final three
THE Margam duo of Jason Thomas and James Matthewman are in contention to be crowned club champions with the Lakeside Winter League set for a thrilling finale.
The pair are through to the singles final, along with Paul Thomas, and the doubles decider where they face Nigel Howell and Dai Williams.
Jason Thomas is likely to be favourite for the singles crown having finished the regular season with the most points and come first in last weekend's eliminator.
A total of 36 stableford points was good enough to claim victory, with Matthewman...
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Laura's weekend predictions
Ammanford v Llangennech
This all West Wales derby will surely be a feisty affair.
Ammanford will be desperate to put a run of wins together to avoid finishing
bottom of the league, whereas Llangennech, who finished ninth last year, will
want to finish the season strongly with a top six finish. Llangennech won the
reverse but with both sides losing last weekend, I predict a close encounter.
With the perfect weather conditions for running rugby coupled with two exciting
back lines, I think a high scoring encounter will be on the cards.
Verdict-Llangennech...
Amateur trio handed Wales Open chance
THREE of the best amateur golfers in Wales will get the chance to mix it with the professionals at the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor.
Rhys Pugh, Jason Shufflebotham and Rhys Enoch, all on golf scholarships in the US and have been named in the Great Britain and Ireland squad to take on the continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy, will get the opportunity to match their skills against some of the top professionals in the European game from May 31-June 3.
Three places in the European Tour event are offered to the Golf Union of Wales...
Italy up first for Wales Under-18s in Spain
WALES play Italy in Madrid tomorrow in the first game of the
FIRA-AER Justin Bridou Under-18 European Championship
Allan Lewis’s side is seeded third for the tournament after
beating France in the third place play-off in last year’s competition staged in
France.
Lewis, the WRU National Academy Coaching Manager, has taken
on the role of head coach and is assisted by Andrew Millward and Dale McIntosh.
Depending on the outcome of tomorrow’s match (2.30pm), the
youngsters will play either France or Scotland next Tuesday in either the
semi-finals...
This weekend's Premiership Predictions
Carmarthen Quins v
Bedwas
Quins are on a six-match winning streak and unbeaten in the
league since the second day of January. They’ll be big favourites to beat
Bedwas even though they haven’t seen any Premiership action for three weeks. Quins
have lost just twice at home all season although Bedwas haven’t got the worst
of away records.
Verdict – Quins by 15
points
Cross Keys v Aberavon
Before losing at Neath in their last league outing, Keys had
won four in a row and last weekend went through to the semi-finals of the
Swalec Cup. With the Wizards...
Laura's weekend predictions
Bargoed v Newbridge
Bargoed know that if they are to have any hope of wrestling the
Division One East title from Ebbw Vale, they must defeat Newbridge on Saturday.
However, the visitors, who secured a Swalec Cup semi-final berth last weekend,
will be high in confidence and looking to secure a repeat of their narrow win
over their rivals back in October. I think this will be another tight encounter
but the home advantage will just give the edge to Bargoed
Verdict-Bargoed by 3
points
Beddau v Blackwood
A single point separates these sides in...
Finalists gearing up for amateur showpiece
TWENTY-SIX boxers will converge on Cardiff tomorrow with the chance of putting their names alongside those of some of Wales’s greatest fighters.
The Sport Wales National Centre in Sophia Gardens hosts the Welsh ABA (WABA) senior finals for the second year in a row with 13 bouts in all taking place.
A number of those taking to the ring in the Welsh capital have recently won selection for the WABA’s new 2014 Elite Men’s and 2014 Elite Women’s squads, while Cwmgors ABC’s Zack Davies is a current member of the GB Boxing set-up.
Davies, who meets...
Gwent golfers learn Duncan Putter draw
AFTER a European Nations Cup to forget, Joe Vickery's next big test will be the Duncan Putter at Southerndown in just over two weeks’ time.
The draw for rounds one and two sees Vickery paired with Neath’s Richard Hooper as the Newport man looks to improve on last year’s seventh place.
St Pierre duo Richard Bentham and Oliver Mottram start their campaigns alongside Somerset’s Fin Bullough and Joshua White of Surrey respectively while Greenmeadow youngster Otto Mand has Cheshire’s Josh Evans for company for the opening 36 holes.
Pennard’s...
Sardis Road to host regional reform rally
THIS Saturday will not only be a big day at Sardis Road on the pitch but off it too.
Pontypridd host rivals Neath at 2.30pm in a key Premiership clash for both sides before a rally is held at the ground in support of a reform of regional rugby in Wales.
MP Owen Smith has been at the centre of the campaign to bring the professional game back to the valleys and he will lead the event which will also include speeches by a number of voices supporting the movement.
The rally takes place on the Sardis Road pitch and Bob Bank terrace and the club is...
Grand Slam hero Evans proud of milestone
AFTER becoming the latest Ospreys centurion at the weekend, Ian Evans says he’s looking forward to taking advantage of the perks of being a senior player at the region.
Evans clocked up his 100th appearance in an Ospreys shirt when he came off the bench during the closing stages of the win in Leinster, six-and-a-half years after his debut, also as a replacement, in a 37-10 defeat to Munster at the start of the 2006/06 season.
Having finally reached the century last Friday evening, Evans revealed that he’ll be looking to secure his own seat at...
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Georgians edge out dogged Premiership XV
Welsh Premiership XV 32 Georgia Representative XV 36
A LATE penalty from the boot of Georgia’s Saba Nikolava sealed a win for the tourists in their clash with a select Premiership XV at the Brewery Field in Bridgend.
The hosts fought bravely but were outscored by five tries to one as the Georgians won the first of two matches they’ll play in Wales.
“The match was very well fought and was an excellent spectacle to watch,” said Premiership coach Simon King. “I thought it was a tough game but a good performance from the boys who have only had four...
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Cup holders given Newbridge test in semis
PREMIERSHIP big guns Pontypridd and Cross Keys remain on course to meet in the final of this season’s Swalec Cup following today’s semi-final draw.
Cup holders Pontypridd play Newbridge in the last four while Cross Keys, also in the semi-finals of the British & Irish Cup, take on giantkillers Ebbw Vale.
The draw also leaves open the possibility of an all-Division One East final, and if Ebbw Vale can beat Keys it would be their fourth Premiership scalp in successive rounds following victories over Aberavon, Newport and Swansea.
In the Swalec...
Welsh ace Boulden to make Curtis Cup bow
CONWY teenager Amy Boulden will make her Curtis Cup debut this June after being named as the sole Welsh golfer in the Great Britain & Ireland team to face the USA.
The 18-year-old, who played for Europe in last year’s Junior Solheim Cup, made the eight-strong squad though Haverfordwest’s Becky Harries had to settle for a place as third reserve.
The big talking point surrounding Tegwen Matthews’s side will undoubtedly revolve around English star Charley Hull, who was expected to miss out on selection having chosen to take up an invite to play...
Quins second row Pugh to lead Prem XV
CARMARTHEN Quins lock Haydn Pugh will skipper the Principality Premiership XV when they face a Georgia International XV at Bridgend’s Brewery Field tonight (7pm).
The former Wales Under-20 second row has impressed head coach Simon King and his coaching team in recent weeks on and off the field, earning the captain’s armband for this inaugural international match for the Premiership outfit.
“Haydn has been excellent in training, has worn his heart on his sleeve and fully deserves to be captain,” said King. “There are a lot of leaders in the squad...
Monday, 26 March 2012
Shane all set for Ospreys farewell tour
WITH the countdown to his last-ever Ospreys game well under way, rugby legend Shane Williams is set to embark on a tour of the region that will see the wing wizard visiting rugby clubs throughout Ospreylia in the coming weeks.
The Welsh derby against Newport Gwent Dragons at the Liberty Stadium on Friday, April 20 has been confirmed as his final Ospreys appearance before he calls time on a dazzling career that has seen him serve Neath, Ospreys, Wales and the British & Irish Lions with distinction, rewriting the history books on the way.
Ahead...
King names experienced squad for Georgia
HEAD coach Simon King has named an experienced Principality Premiership XV squad to face a Georgia International XV at the Brewery Field in Bridgend tomorrow (7pm).
Players from 10 Premiership clubs make up the 25-man squad from which King will select the starting line-up and replacements – Aberavon have the highest representation from any one club with seven.
“We are happy with the squad we’ve been able to select,” said King. “We have trained well as a group in the sessions we’ve had over the last couple of weeks and all the players involved...
Welsh team end Nations Cup on a high
WALES climbed three places to 12th on the final day of the European Nations Cup in Spain.
Pennard ace James Frazer ended his tournament with a round of 71, which also left him 12th in the individual standings.
Had the 2011 Duncan Putter champion not started his campaign at Sotogrande with an 80 he could well have threatened the top of the leaderboard.
In the end, a play-off was needed to determine the best golfer on show and it was Dutchman Robin Kind who claimed first prize while the French team took the Nations Cup.
As for the Welsh foursome,...
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Pitmen outclass Quins to progress
Penallta ended Maesteg Quins' bid to return to the Millennium Stadium to secure their place in the Swalec Plate semi-final draw with an 18-8 victory at Ystrad Fawr.
In a tightly contested opening half, the Quins' well-organised defence and strong scrum put the Pitmen on the back foot, but the hosts rallied to take an 8-3 lead into the interval thanks to a Gregg Haines touchdown and a Jonny Wright penalty.
Penallta centre Andrew Jenkins touches...
Rhiwbina tame the Tyrchs at Cae Delyn
Rhiwbina got back to winning ways against visitors Pentyrch in a free-flowing game at sunny Parc Caedelyn. Both teams looked to run the ball, but Rhiwbina’s stronger pack secured enough of the possession in the second half to gain a 29-18 bonus point victory.
Man of the match, winger Brett Chatwin, scored two superbly taken tries for the Squirrels, one in each half. The first was silky run-in from 20 metres, and the second a really forceful effort taking three defenders with him to stretch over and score.
Hooker Josh...
Mold limp towards end of season
The journey for Mold to the end of the season and to Pwllheli seemed even longer this week with only 16 fully fit and available players managing to travel.
“It's been a disastrous week”, said Mold Head coach Les Byrne. “What started out a very promising week ended up a nightmare, even on the Saturday morning with just 16 players left. But that’s the hand we were dealt so all credit to those players that made the journey and came away with just a 26-13 defeat”.
In the post match player debrief, Byrne congratulated his players for “putting their...
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