Narberth beat battling Beddau

Otters flanker Wayne Williams evades the Beddau defence to score a breakaway try Photo courtesy of AlfiePics Narberth were made to work hard for their eighth win of the season as they battled to a 30-15 home win over Beddau on Wednesday night. On the attack: Beddau scrum half Hywel Chatham spins the ball wide. Photo courtesy of AlfiePics The Green and Golds, who had made the long journey West midweek, made the brighter start, but a converted...

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Principality Premiership Friday predictions

Bedwas v Newport Two teams in form meet at the Bridge Field with table toppers Bedwas unbeaten in five and Newport without a loss in three. The visitors’ games at home to Aberavon last weekend was postponed because of a sodden Rodney Parade pitch so they may have lost a bit of match sharpness in the meantime. Bedwas edged the reverse fixture in Newport 26-25 in September so they might have a slight psychological advantage as they go for a league double. Verdict – Bedwas by three points Cardiff v Bridgend Both sides lost last time out but...

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Championship Midweek Predictions

Glamorgan Wanderers v Bargoed With Wanderers languishing fourth from bottom and their rivals Bargoed just one point off the top, it is hard to see anything other than a win for the visitors tonight. Bargoed were too strong for highfliers Newbridge last time out and they can reclaim top spot with a win here as leaders Ebbw Vale have a night off. Verdict – Bargoed by 20 points Narberth v Beddau I’m sure Beddau won’t be too pleased with the WRU’s scheduling as the Green and Golds have to make a long trip West mid-week and I think they will...

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Welsh Premiership Predictions

Carmarthen Quins v Bedwas Friday night will see the first return fixtures in the Premiership. Leaders Bedwas, determined to maintain their reign at the head of the table, will be looking to complete the double over the Quins after their opening day 22-16 win. The hosts, meanwhile, haven't played since their 20-8 loss at Llanelli two weeks ago and will be glad to return to the comforts of Carmarthen Park, where they will undoubtedly provide a stern test for the league leaders. The match will be a close one but I think the Quins will just clinch...

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Seddon rules the roost as Denbigh go try crazy

A STUNNING haul of 35 points from Tom Seddon, including two tries, 11 conversions and a penalty, helped Denbigh annihilate Llanidloes 105-8 in Two North with the division’s frontrunners scoring 16 tries. Dafydd Cartwright was the only man to score a hat-trick but Dan Jones, Dwayne Speakman-Jones, Jamie Winning and Dan Mars-Jones all crossed twice. Second-placed COBRA made hard work of their home encounter against bottom club Colwyn Bay before coming out on top 21-15 but without the extra bonus point. Stephen Alson was Shotton’s man of...

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Carwyn's right on cue for RGC with try treble

CARWYN ap Myrddin had a field day yesterday as he raced over for a hat-trick of tries in RGC 1404’s commanding 40-5 home win over Penallta in One East. However, Ystrad Rhondda still look good out in front as they scored 50 points or more for the fourth time this season in beating Merthyr 52-10 at the Wern. Two of their seven tries were scored by Sean Webber while another two were penalty tries awarded by the referee. Alex Webber, David Gratton and Dan John also got on the scoresheet for the men from the Rhondda. Rhydyfelin, the only side to...

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Ebbw and Bargoed maintain title charge

MATCHES involving the Championship’s top two aside, yesterday saw some real nail-biting encounters with losing margins in the five remaining games totalling just 17 points. Right at the bottom, Whitland were on the wrong end of a 9-6 defeat at Bonymaen as Richard Cuniffe outkicked Nico Setaro three penalties to two. However, the closest finish of the day came in West Wales where hosts Narberth overcame Llanharan 15-14 – the visitors could easily have won it had they not missed a couple of kicks at goal. Narberth led through a James Reynolds...

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Historic day for Bedwas after Powell sees red

THERE may well be a few sore heads in Bedwas today but those associated with the rugby club won’t mind one bit as their team proudly sits at the top of the Principality Premiership for the first time in its history. Richard Powell’s first-half red card aside, it was a memorable day for the Caerphilly borough side, which battled to a 29-20 victory over Cardiff at the Bridge Field to take top spot in the table. That’s because previously unbeaten Llandovery lost for the first time this season at Cross Keys who leapfrogged Carmarthen Quins and Llanelli...

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Championship weekend predictions

Blackwood v Beddau The Green and Golds surprised many last time out when they saw off highfliers Newbridge and will be looking to build on this performance tomorrow, but will face a tough test in Glan yr Afon. The hosts have had an extended break thanks to the international fixture and a postponement, but they, too, will be hoping to carry on where they left off after convincingly beating Bonymaen at the end of October. I think this will be a close match: Beddau sit just one place higher than their opponents in the table but based on their continued...

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Horgan welcomes fitness boost for struggling Neath

NEATH coach Patrick Horgan has revealed that fitness has been his squad’s “biggest weakness” this season with the club lingering near the foot of the Principality Premiership. The enforced lay-off due to the start of the autumn internationals, however, has given Horgan the chance to work on the players’ conditioning as they prepare for Saturday’s clash against Newport. “The week off has really helped us,” said Horgan. “We’ve done a lot of conditioning. Our fitness levels have been our biggest weakness this season so we’ve been concentrating...

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Welsh Premiership weekend predictions

Aberavon v Pontypridd After the elation of a fantastic draw against Llandovery, Aberavon were brought back down to earth last time out at Bridgend although they did pick up a losing bonus point away from home. Pontypridd’s last outing was at the end of October when they surprisingly lost to Newport at Rodney Parade and with an extended break they are playing catch-up on all the other teams in terms of games played. You’d have to go for a home win in this one but not by as many points as some may expect given the positions of the clubs in the...

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John Leyshon rejoins Neath

Centre John Leyshon has re-joined Neath from Bridgend and is expected to take to the field this Saturday when Neath face Newport at The Gnoll (kick-off 2.30pm). As with prop Marc Jones who returned last week, it is something of a homecoming for the strong-running midfield man who played for Neath under 21s and was a member of the senior Neath squad in 2003/04 – the first post-regional season. A product of Crynant, John will give Neath added power in midfield where two other local lads Ryan Evans and Kyle Davies have been combining effectively...

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Welsh trio set for final tour qualifier

THREE Welshmen will go in search of a European Tour card at Catalunya in Spain later this month after Liam Bond was the only golfer from Wales to get through the second stage of qualifying. The 42-year-old St Pierre pro is joined at final qualifying, which runs from November 24-29, by Cardiff’s Stephen Dodd, the former British Amateur champion and three-time winner on the European Tour and Bradley Dredge, twice a winner on the tour. Dodd, 46, and Dredge, 39, who won the World Cup for Wales in 2005, were exempt from the first two stages of qualifying...

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Scorpions sign former Brisbane Broncos rugby union junior

South Wales Scorpions Rugby League Club have signed former Brisbane Broncos academy player Kayle Connor for the 2013 season. The 21-year old utility back has recently been playing in the Queensland Cup competition in Australia, first for Norths Devils whom he helped to the 2011 Grand Final, and last season for Souths Logan Magpies. Connor, who holds a British passport so won't count on the club's quota of foreign players, is an accomplished goal kicker. He was also a prominent rugby union player as a junior, turning out for Queensland...

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Home advantage for Saints in Welsh Cup opener

THE New Saints will begin their defence of the Welsh Cup with a third-round tie at home against Huws Gray Alliance outfit Conwy Borough while there are three all-Welsh Premier League games. Conwy make the trip to the Park Hall astroturf next month after beating Buckley Town in a penalty shoot-out in round two on Saturday. Welsh Premier leaders Prestatyn Town make the long trip south to the Marston Stadium to take on league rivals Afan Lido, Andy Preece’s Airbus entertain Port Talbot Town and Llanelli, looking for a new manager after Andy Legg’s...

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Students demolish Castle

Cardiff Met Ladies were the big winners of the day in the Women’s Welsh Premier when they handed out an 18-0 drubbing of league strugglers Caerphilly Castle on Sunday at Cyncoed. The reigning champions wasted no time in stamping their authority over proceedings when striker Emily Brown pounced inside the opening minute to fire the students ahead. Caerphilly were unable to get to grips with the dynamic striker as Brown netted eight in total, while Adele Hooper also had a fine afternoon finding the target five times. Jas Thomas, Steff Turner,...

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