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WRU National Championship Preview

WRU National Championship Preview

Pontypool are out to keep their perfect start to the season into 2017 against Glynneath as the WRU National Championship returns.

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The Gwent side are flying high at the summit of the Championship after 14 consecutive victories before Christmas. Pooler, who return to Pontypool Park this weekend, will be out to build on their thumping 40-10 victory at local rivals Newbridge against a Glynneath side looking to recover from a 24-13 home defeat to second-placed Tata Steel.

The West Walians will be hoping to continue their chase of the runaway leaders with victory over bottom side Dunvant. Tata were pushed all the way when the two sides met last September, but they managed to battle to a 31-25 triumph. Dunvant will be hoping to kickstart their campaign in 2017 or risk falling further behind Newbridge at the bottom of the table, especially with a clash against Pontypool a week later.

Newbridge are three points clear of Dunvant, but have a game in hand over their rivals from Swansea. They face a Bedlinog team who sit fifth in the table despite defeats to Beddau and Narberth in their last two fixtures.

Cardiff Met lost nine straight matches before showing their resurgence with victory at Skewen and Glamorgan Wanderers. But if they are to make it three on the spin, they will have to beat a Narberth side flying high in third place. The Otters have only suffered three defeats this season – two against Pontypool and one to Beddau. The students were powerless to stop the West Walians from storming to a 39-6 triumph the last time the teams met.

Beddau occupy fourth spot in the table, but will be searching for consistency after a run of three wins and three defeats in their last six matches. They travel to Newcastle Emlyn on Saturday, while  Glamorgan Wanderers welcome Skewen to the Memorial Ground.

WRU National Championship Saturday 7 January:

Bedlinog v Newbridge
Cardiff Met v Narberth
Glamorgan Wanderers v Skewen
Newcastle Emlyn v Beddau
Pontypool v Glynneath
Tata Steel v Dunvant

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