Llanelli’s rise into third place seems to have gone unnoticed but they have been on a brilliant recent run and are now just one point behind Pontypridd in second place, albeit having played two games more.
Their latest win was a narrow 28-24 victory over lowly Swansea where Craig Price, who has represented Wales 7s this year, was named man of the match.
Their visit to take on Cross Keys promises to be a tight battle. Greg Wood’s men made amends for their defeat to Newport in the B&I Cup with a 29-9 league win over their Gwent rivals over Christmas.
Though the West Wales side head to Pandy Park in third position, they are just a point ahead of fifth placed Keys so it promises to be an entertaining, close-fought encounter.
Back in September when Llanelli hosted Keys the home side clinched a 12-6 victory in a match that didn’t exactly set the world on fire. Llanelli outside half Jonny Lewis kicked four penalties for the home side whilst Dorian Jones and replacement Dean Gunter kicked a penalty apiece for the Keys.
The Keys side for Saturday’s game shows five changes to the side that started last Thursday’s victory over Newport as Greg Woods rotates his side.
Cross Keys: 15 Steffan Jones 14 Luke Williams 13 Leon Andrews 12 Nathan Williams 11 Nathan Trowbridge 10 Dorian Jones 9 Rhys Dyer, 1 Richard Cornock 2 Gerwyn Price 3 Craig Gould 4 Danny Hodge 5 Ollie Hodge 6 Tom Lampard 7 Rob Nash (c) 8 Adam Powell.
Replacements from: Nathan Williams, James Johnstone, Anthony Lott, Garry Horrigan, Sean Higgins, Scott Matthews, Ryan James, Dean Gunter, Gareth David.
Llanelli: 15 Diggy Bird 14 Dale Ford 13 Nic Reynolds 12 Jonny Lewis 11 Justin James 10 Owen Williams 9 Aled Davies, 1 Shaun Hopkins 2 Craig Hawkins(c) 3 Aled Hopkins 4 Jake Ball 5 Joel Galley 6 Lewis Rawlins 7 Duane Eager 8 Stuart Leach.
Replacements: Tom Sloane, Greg George, Nathan White, Nathan Hart, Ryan Jones, Chris Keenan, Kyle Evans, Jamie Kaijaks.
