Pooler have only had their colours lowered twice this season and those occasions were away at Glamorgan Wanderers in October and in their most recent game at the Welfare Ground, Newbridge where the home side hung on for a 13-12 victory.
With Llandovery snapping at their heels, Pooler cannot afford to lose against a Blackwood outfit with just one win from their last five outings.
Llandovery should account for a Treorchy side who can claim only one victory from 13 starts. The Drovers have won seven of their eight league matches at Church Bank while the Zebras have been successful in only one of their eight games away from the Oval and they are unlikely to improve on that record..
Aberavon have games in hand on the leaders and while points in the bag are always better, they must be quietly confident of overhauling the frontrunners.
They meet an improving Bonymaen side at the Talbot Athletic Ground on Sunday and as the division’s joint leading try scorers they will be hoping to add a few more touchdowns to their already impressive tally. They have won all seven home matches while Bonymaen have been successful on their most recent trips to Whitland and Rumney. The Wizards should be too strong for their visitors to stay in close contention at the top of the table.
Only Tredegar’s home form has kept them away from a relegation fight and they will be looking to maintain that form when Whitland pay a visit tonight. Tredegar have won their last two home matches against Rumney and Blackwood but the Borderers have already totted up three wins on the road and will be favourites to down Tredegar’s colours and move closer to the leading pack.
Bedwas have had a disappointing run with no wins in their last four outings. Narberth will be a severe test on Saturday (11.30am) although the Otters themselves have only just snapped out of a depressing run of five straight league defeats.
Narberth have raced in 47 tries while Bedwas have crossed their opponents line only 30 times, giving the visitors the edge in the only division one match taking place on Saturday.
Glamorgan Wanderers will be put to the test when Newbridge visit the Memorial Ground. The Cardiff-based side’s home record of four wins from five games could prove the catalyst for another home victory. Newbridge have been beaten on their last two away trips to Llandovery and Aberavon but were given a confidence boost by that impressive win over leaders Pontypool last week. Home advantage could well tip the balance the Wanderers way.
Beddau travel to Llanharan tonight still struggling to come to terms with rugbyat a higher level. Last week’s 28-24 victory over Cross Keys put an end to a dismal run of six games without a win but the newcomers can still only claim one away victory this season, at lowly Rumney in September, from seven starts.
Llanharan have managed victories at the Dairy Field on four occasions and should be strong enough to maintain their mid-table slot while at the same time condemning Beddau to a relegation scrap at the bottom of the division.
Tondu have been beaten at Pandy Park in five of their seven home games and the visit of Rumney tonight will give them the opportunity of improving that poor record. Rumney have managed only one victory all season and that was at
Riverside Park against Bedwas. Seven straight away defeats for the Cardiff side has left them joint bottom with Treorchy and they must start winning games or they will find the gap between them and the other sides too great to make up.
This one could be close and the Waterwheelers may just lose out to a side even more desperate than them for points.
The match at Cross Keys where Carmarthen Quins were to be the visitors on
Sunday has been postponed.
Friday, 22 November
Glamorgan Wanderers v Newbridge
Llandovery v Treorchy
Llanharan v Beddau
Pontypool v Blackwood
Tondu v Rumney
Tredegar v Whitland
Saturday, 23 November
Bedwas v Narberth (11.30am)
Sunday, 24 November
Aberavon v Bonymaen
Cross Keys v Carmarthen Quins (postponed)
