But 12 months later it won’t be the reigning champions who will start as favourites at Eugene Cross Park when the second phase of the newly constructed season gets under way. They may have squeezed into Tier 1 on the last day of the first-half of the season, but they will be the underdogs against battling Bedwas.
Bedwas finished as runners-up to Aberavon in the table after 15 matches and were 10 points clear of the Steelmen. They also beat the champions 23-22 on their own patch as they revealed to the rest of the chasing pack that they have serious title ambitions.
“I don’t think anybody would have predicted the top four at the start of the season, and it was a surprise to us to be in among them. Of the top four, we are the ones with the smallest budget,” admitted Bedwas head coach Steve Law.
“We wanted to be competitive and to finish as high as we possibly could, but second probably surprised us all. Our defensive record was very good and that’s what got us there.
“We are a good side without necessarily having the best players. We have got a lot of the right pieces to fit into our jig-saw.
“We may not have the same budgets as some of the other sides, but what we do have is plenty of energy and endeavour. We also have enough ability to be very competitive.”
Just how much ability and how competitive will become apparent in the next few weeks as the eight teams in Tier 1 fight it out for the play-off places. While Bedwas head to Eugene Cross Park, third placed Merthyr make the long trek north to face fourth placed RGC 1404.
Last season they were battling it out in the Championship and both have quickly acclimatised in the top tournament. RGC went to The Wern and won 23-19 over the Christmas period, so there will be a strong whiff of revenge in the air at Parc Eirias.
The game at Church Bank between Llandovery and Aberavon, a repeat of last weekend’s WRU National Cup tie that the Drovers won at the Talbot Athletic Ground, has already been called off. That leaves Pontypridd v Carmarthen Quins as the only other game in Tier 1.
Neath got their Tier 2 campaign off to a flying start with a 20-9 win over Cardiff at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park. Two second half tries from Jordan Collier and Geraint Llewellyn earned the visitors a significant triumph and Ed Howley kicked 10 points.
Foster’s Challenge Cup semi-finalists Bridgend host Newport, while Cross Keys entertain Llanelli and two more of last season’s promoted teams, Swansea and Bargoed, do battle at St Helen’s.
