Radyr and Wrexham race into Victory Shield semis

WREXHAM and Radyr have made it into the semi-finals of the Victory Shield following victories over Carmarthen and Pyle & Kenfig respectively.

The clubs guaranteed their places at finals day at Royal St David’s on July 31 with the two remaining berths still to be claimed.

Prestatyn play Pontypridd and Pontnewydd take on St Giles for the honour of joining Wrexham and Radyr in Harlech at the end of the month.

Southerndown were crowned ladies team champions last month and the club’s men’s team are still in with a shout of making it a historic double.

They will meet Monmouthshire in the last 32 of the Welsh Men’s Team Championship at Newport from August 17-19 with either Holyhead or Cottrell Park awaiting the winner in round two.

The first-round draw brought out some interesting ties with the hosts, for whom Joe Vickery will be playing his last event as an amateur before turning pro, are up against Lakeside.

Reigning champions Neath, who beat Newport in last year’s final, meet Mountain Ash. That could see current Glamorgan captain Ian Flower go toe-to-toe with Neath predecessor Richard Hooper.

Last 32 draw in full; Caerphilly v Raglan Parc, Penrhos v Llandrindod Wells, Nefyn & District v Conwy, Mountain Ash v Neath, Lakeside v Newport, St Deiniol v Machynys, Glynneath v Morlais Castle, Haverfordwest v Clyne, Milford Haven v Padeswood & Buckley, Vale v Parc, Glamorganshire v Celtic Manor, Holyhead v Cottrell Park, Monmouthshire v Southerndown, Wrexham v Tenby, Whitchurch v Peterstone Lakes.

Five clubs are safely through to the open draw for the fourth round of the Ping Mixed Foursomes, the finals of which are hosted by Neath on October 8.

Mold beat Padeswood & Buckley II 2.5-0.5 and Clays overcame Abersoch I 2-1 in the first quarter of the draw while in the third, St Pierre lost 3-0 to Woodlake Park and Pennard saw off Palleg & Swansea Valley II in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, Newport continues to dominate in division one of the Gwent League with the club’s first team leading its second side by more than 20 points. It’s a similar story in division two where Celtic Manor firsts are a long way clear of Newport thirds.

It’s a bit closer in the third division but Newport fourths head the standings from Llanwern seconds while Dewstow are the leaders in division four. Llanwern thirds are just half-a-point in front of Wernddu firsts in the fifth tier and Celtic Manor thirds hold a healthy gap over Parc thirds in division six.

Raglan Parc seconds hold a slender advantage over West Mon seconds in division seven while in the four-team division eight, Alice Springs seconds trail Greenmeadow thirds by a couple of points.