The Rodney Parade outfit currently sit in fifth place, two points behind arch-rivals Cardiff. If they can overtake them – Cardiff head to Sardis Road to take on Pontypridd on Saturday – then they will pick up an extra point to carry forward when the East and West divisions amalgamate for the second half of the season.
The top teams will be awarded eight points with each place below them picking up a point less. Coming into the final round there is still plenty to play for:
- First place in both East and West remains up for grabs with current leaders Merthyr and RGC 1404 able to be overtaken
- The bottom two places in both divisions could change
- The top five places in the West could all change in the final round
- Only three of the 16 clubs cannot change their current position
The battle for the top spots will go down to the wire with reigning champions Merthyr and Pontypridd both enjoying home advantage this weekend. The Ironmen host bottom of the table Bargoed at The Wern, while Ponty will be hoping to pick up a full-house of five points against Cardiff to try to bridge the one point gap between themselves and the leaders.
In the West, RGC 1404 head to Bridgend knowing they only need a win to pick up the maximum eight points to take into the second half of the campaign. They currently have a three point lead over Carmarthen Quins and will meet the Ravens again in their opening fixture in phase two next week at Parc Eirias.
The Quins, who beat the Gogs 25-22 in their last outing, head to third-placed Llandovery hoping to complete the double and protect their two point advantage. They beat the Drovers 16-12 at home in October and could finish top or third on the final day of the first-phase.
The outcome of two classic West Wales derbies will determine which team finishes in fourth and fifth. Llanelli currently hold a one point lead in fourth over Aberavon.
The Scarlets head to Swansea on Saturday, while the Wizards travel to The Gnoll to face Neath on Boxing Day. There is all to play for with Neath two points behind Swansea at the bottom of the table and hoping to climb up one place.
Principality Premiership East Division – Round 14
20 December
Newport v Cross Keys
Newport: Haydn Simons; Elliot Frewen, Haydn Palmer, Chay Smith, Jon Morris; Matt O’Brien, Ryan Bates; John Lavender, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, Joe Bartlett, Dan Partridge, Morgan Burgess, Rhys Jenkins (captain), Lennon Greggains
Replacements: Will Evans, Nick Boyce, Ken Dowding, Rhys Cresswell, Alex Everett, Tom Edwards, Adam Sabri, Geraint O’Driscoll
Cross Keys: Leon Andrews, Mathew Powell, Lewis Barnett, Phil Williams, Joe Goodchild, Josh Prosser, Owain Leonard; Lewis Smout, Will Griffiths, Richard Cornock, Tom Lampard, Josh Skinner, Taine Basham, Scott Matthews (c), Adam Powell
Replacements: 16. Gary Carpenter, 17. Luke Garrett, 18. Scott Evans, 19. Rob Evans, 20. Liam Davies, 21. Ben Snell, 22. Ross Pritchard, 23. Barney Nightingale.
23 December
Ebbw Vale v Bedwas
Merthyr v Bargoed
Pontypridd v Cardiff
Principality Premiership East Division – Round 14
23 December
Bridgend v RGC 1404
Llandovery v Carmarthen Quins
Swansea v Llanelli
26 December
Neath v Aberavon
Principality Premiership Phase 2 – Round 1
30 December
Carmarthen Quins v Swansea
Ebbw Vale v Llanelli
Llandovery v Aberavon
Merthyr v Cross Keys
Neath v Bargoed
Newport v Cardiff
Pontypridd v Bedwas
RGC 1404 v Bridgend
