Results in recent weeks have seen successive leaders, Aberavon and Merthyr, beaten and, after two successive away defeats, the reigning champions, Ebbw Vale, currently find themselves down in ninth place and facing the possibility of not being in the running to defend their crown.
The competition takes a break for the next two weeks, with the return of the British & Irish Cup and the Foster’s Challenge Cup, before it comes back with a bang over the Festive period when the top eight will be decided.
After 12 rounds, last season’s Championship winners, Merthyr, still lead, but there are only six points separating the top five teams. The Ironmen have a tough run in with two of their three matches coming against sides in the top four.
They entertain fourth placed RGC 1404, who thumped Ebbw Vale 51-17 at the weekend at Parc Eirias, on 27 December, and bottom of the table Bargoed at The Wern four days later, before completing the first phase of the campaign at second placed Aberavon on 7 January. Their 26-13 defeat at Carmarthen Quins in Round 12 was their third loss of the season and the result allowed the Quins to move into seventh place.
The Wizards, meanwhile, were beaten 30-24 at Newport and have now only won once in their last five games. As well as facing Merthyr, they meet Neath at home on Boxing Day and then travel to Bridgend five days later.
The Ravens’ 23-20 defeat at Swansea provided the Al Whites with only their second win of the season and dented the visitors’ hopes of climbing into the top half of the table. They are locked on 22 points with Llanelli and will need to pick up bonus points in their final three matches and hope other teams can do them a favour to make the top eight.
Swansea are definitely out of the running for a top half finish, along with Bargoed and Neath, but there are a mere eight points covering the six teams below the top four. Something is going to have to give and some big name clubs are set to miss out.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP ROUND 12 RESULTS
Carmarthen Quins 26, Merthyr 13
Cross Keys 15, Bedwas 11
Llandovery 54, Neath 12
Llanelli 14, Cardiff 28
Newport 30, Aberavon 24
Pontypridd 37, Bargoed 15
RGC 1404 51, Ebbw Vale 17
Swansea 23, Bridgend 20
Check out the Principality Premiership Table HERE
