The pressure was mounting following their dismal start to
the season and last week’s home defeat by Bargoed seems to have been the straw
that broke the Camel’s back at Glan-Yr-Afon Park with them only two points
ahead of Bonymaen at the foot of the table.
They entertain Pontypool this weekend looking for a vital
win to try and keep them out of a relegation fight.
Bargoed v
Llanharan
With Bargoed fancied to push Ebbw Vale all the way this
season their start to the new campaign has been too inconsistent to be
challenging at the top. A prime example was their terrific away win at Cardiff
Met followed a week later by losing to Bridgend Athletic at home. They will
need a run of results for about six or seven games if they want to get back
into the title picture. Since Llanharan’s opening day defeat to Cardiff Met
they have gone on to win six out of their next seven games and are on a bit of
a roll at the moment. With a strong, mobile pack and Codey Rees pulling the
strings at fly-half I think they will carry on in their rich vein of form by
beating Bargoed but it will be very close.
Verdict – Llanharan by 4 points.
Blackwood v
Pontypool
Blackwood have really struggled so far this season. The
dismissal of their Director of Rugby and Skills and Conditioning coaches will
not help them either so close to another important fixture, this time against
Pontypool who did not play last week so will be refreshed and raring to go. For
the coaches to be let go so soon into the season, you hope it was not a
knee-jerk reaction as Matthew Back was highly regarded at Glan-Yr-Afon Park.
Despite them likely to be galvanised and eager to impress whoever takes over, I
do not envision Blackwood getting a result tomorrow due to Pontypool’s extra
break and their decent start.
Verdict – Pontypool by 6 points.
Bonymaen v
Bridgend Athletic
Both teams are struggling at the moment but can take
positives out of their recent performances. Bridgend Athletic have lost their
last three matches but by only two points and were extremely unlucky against
Llanharan last weekend as Codey Rees struck a late penalty to get his side the
result. Despite a heavy loss at the hands of Newbridge, Bonymaen have also been
competitive in their last few games so will feel like they can get a result
tomorrow, as will Bridgend Athletic. In what could be an extremely open,
entertaining fixture I think Bridgend Athletic will come away with the spoils.
Verdict – Bridgend Athletic by 5 points.
Cardiff Met v
Tondu
After a promising start, Cardiff Met have started to fall
away from the top sides in the Championship. They fell victim to the weather
last weekend so will probably be eager to get back out onto the field. With
their BUCS campaign already underway, it will be interesting to see if that has
any bearing on their league form. Tondu are another committed side but may lack
that extra bit of class in key areas which could harm them as the season goes
on. I think Cardiff Met will win this one quite comfortably.
Verdict – Cardiff Met by 17 points.
Ebbw Vale v Tata
Steel
The Steelmen continue to brush aside all opponents in what
is beginning to look like a battle for second in the Championship. They once
again notched up a bonus-point win away in their derby at Newbridge last
Saturday with their front row of Ross Jones, Matthew Williams and Robert
Sevenoaks all outstanding. Tata Steel’s supposedly fearsome pack were given a
bit of a hiding against RGC 1404 in their last game and with the power and
strength in the Ebbw Vale pack, the Saints will have to work tremendously hard
to get on top in this one. But Jason Strange’s men will likely pick up another
bonus-point win at Eugene Cross Park to leave them one step closer to the
Premiership.
Verdict – Ebbw Vale by 26 points.
Narberth v
Newbridge
Narberth currently sit in second place in the Championship
after their bonus-point win at Tondu last weekend. The Otters have had some
decent results lately and have a nice balance in their squad which should
trouble a lot of teams. Newbridge are not having the greatest of seasons thus
far winning only three of their eight games and all at the Welfare Ground. They
have yet to win away so far and I don’t think that fact will change tomorrow.
Verdict – Narberth by 10 points.
RGC 1404 V Beddau
RGC 1404 are having a brilliant start to life in the
Championship and have had some cracking results. They overpowered the supposed
mighty pack of Tata Steel last weekend and beginning to forge a reputation of
having a formidable set of forwards of their own. They seem to have a terrific
set-up in North Wales so the future certainly looks promising. Beddau ground
out a win against bottom boys Bonymaen in their previous fixture so will have a
bit of confidence going into this game. They are one of numerous teams who have
been inconsistent but will more than likely be pleased with their form so far
this year. I think a trip to Colwyn Bay will be too much and RGC 1404 will win
comfortably in front of their passionate supporters.
Verdict – RGC 1404 by 18 points.
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