Brynmawr, who went on to complete a league and cup double last season, were impressive 35-19 winners in the quarter-finals at the Wanderers ground last season and hugely impressed the home coaching guru Martyn Fowler with their power-packed performance.
“We didn’t see that performance coming last season and they were good value for their win. They had a great season and have carried on in a similar vein this winter,” said Fowler.
“We’ll certainly be underdogs going up there, but we’re in reasonable shape. We had another controlled performance against Llantrisant last weekend.
“We asked the players to keep the scoreboard turning over to create pressure and the boys did that.
“They showed composure at the end of the game to create the try scoring opportunity that allowed Will Adams-Jones to gain another vital bonus point for us.”
That try helped the Wanderers beat the ‘Black Army’ 35-19 and move five points clear of Rumney at the top of the East Central table.
Rumney, who have two games in hand, picked up their sixth win of the campaign with a 13-12 home triumph over Cambrian Welfare.
They will also have a big cup clash this weekend when they host another of the high-flyers in Division 1 East, Andy Powell’s Brecon. They are the only team to have beaten Brynmawr this season.
“We were beaten by Brecon recently and that certainly taught us a lesson. The aim is to win every game and we’d love to complete a double-double,” said Brynmawr coach Gavin Knapp.
“We had lost to Penallta this time last year and it did us a power of good. We know the Wanderers are going well and it is going to be a real challenge.
“We had a good win down there in the quarter-finals last year and the cup run was fantastic for the club. It would be brilliant to make it back to the Principality Stadium.”
The Wanderers finished second in the league behind Ystrad Rhondda last season, while Brynmawr were beaten by the Rhondda club in the play-off to go into the Championship.
Ystrad are currently second in the table behind Pontypool and their performances this season in the higher league has heartened Knapp.
“What Ystrad have done this season just shows that the gap between the top sides in Division 1 East and East Central and the Championship isn’t that great. The hard part is trying to get up there to join them,” added Knapp.
Brynmawr had their game called-off due to the weather last weekend, while the Wanderers had 20 points from Luke Fish at the heart of their latest win.
James Loxton and Morgan Evans also added tries before Adams-Jones grabbed the bonus-point.
Rhiwbina, beaten finalists in 2014, will also be in action in the Plate this weekend when they host Llanelli Wanderers, while Treorchy, who were beaten 17-11 at home by Dinas Powys last weekend, head to Bridgend Athletic. Mountain Ash face a long trek north to Pwllheli.
WRU National Plate – Round 3
Bridgend Athletic v Treorchy
Brynmawr v Glamorgan Wanderers
Cambrian Welfare v Mumbles
Heol y Cyw v Penallta
Llandudno v Blaenavon
Nelson v Croesyceiliog
Pencoed v Seven Sisters
Pwllheli v Mountain Ash
Resolven v Senghenydd
Rhiwbina v Llanelli Wanderers
Rumney v Brecon
