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NATIONAL LEAGUES: Title races hotting up in second half of season

Ioan Edwards

Brecon are hoping to reach the heights of the Principality Stadium and the WRU National Plate final

The race for titles, and a place in the play-offs for the WRU National Championship, is set to heat up in the second half of the season and the opening salvos of 2019 will be vitally important in the five Division One leagues around the country

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DIVISION 1 EAST
Brecon will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table after making it nine games without defeat with their 37-30 home win over Blaenavon last weekend. They also won their re-arranged game in the WRU National Plate on Wednesday night with a 15-9 triumph at Rumney.

They currently lead reigning champions Brynmawr and third placed Penallta, who are tied on 39 points, by four points. Brecon are the only side to beat Brynmawr in the league this season and still have to play home and away against Penallta.

Brecon head to Caerleon, Brynmawr travel to fifth placed Risca and Penallta host Ynysybwl. At the other end of the table, the bottom two, Hartridge and Dowlais, both have home fixtures as they look to climb out of the basement.

Blaenavon v Nelson
Caerleon v Brecon
Dowlais v Cwmbran
Hartridge v Pontypool United
Penallta v Ynysybwl
Risca v Brynmawr

DIVISION 1 EAST CENTRAL
Rhiwbina will have revenge in mind when they host Porth Quins as their visitors are the only team to beat them to date this season. In the second round of matches on 15 September, the Quins won 18-17 on their own patch.

The Squirrels are currently six points behind league leaders Glamorgan Wanderers, but have three games in hand. Second placed Rumney, who crashed out of the WRU National Plate with a 15-8 home defeat to Brecon on Wednesday, head to fifth placed Dinas Powys as they turn their attentions to a title run in the league.

The Wanderers, unbeaten in their last four outings since losing 27-26 at Mountain Ash on 20 October, head to bottom of the table Gilfach Goch.

Dinas Powys v Rumney
Gilfach Goch v Glamorgan Wanderers
Llantrisant v Cambrian Welfare
Rhiwbina v Porth Harlequins
St Joseph’s v Mountain Ash
Treorchy v Bridgend Athletic

DIVISION 1 NORTH
Caernarfon pushed unbeaten Pwllheli all the way at home last time out before going down 17-15 and this weekend they will test the title credentials of another team boasting a 100% record, Llandudno. The Goats are sitting pretty at the top of the table with 10 out of 10, although they only lead Pwllheli by three points and have played a game more.

That’s why their home game against Caernarfon is so important in what will be their first league outing since 15 December. Having beaten them 29-18 away on 15 September they need to get a full-house of points to beat second placed Pwllhelli’s total against them.

At the bottom of the table, Llangefni will be hoping to make up ground on Dinbych when they welcome them to Angelsey. There were 92 points scored when they two sides lat met, with Dinbych running out 57-35 winners.

Bala v Ruthin
Bro Ffestiniog v Nant Conwy
Llandudno v Caernarfon
Llangefni v Dinbych
Pwllheli v Bethesda

DIVISION 1 WEST
League leaders Felinfoel will put their unbeaten home record on the line against Aberystwyth as they seek to build on their 10 point lead over Gowerton. When they two teams last met, on 15 September, the leaders won 29-21 on the road.

Convincing wins over two of their title rivals, 29-16 at Llangennech and 50-17 at Gowerton, in their last two matches have kept Felinfoel on course to retain the title they won in such convincing style last season with a 16 point cushion over Dunvant.

Both Gowerton and Llangennech are on the road this weekend, while fourth placed Hendy, one of only two teams to topple the leaders this season, will be hoping our more misery on bottom of the table Tenby United when they travel to Pembroekshire. Tenby have yet to win a game.

Crymych v Whitland
Dunvant v Llanelli Wanderers
Felinfoel v Aberystwyth
Gorseinon v Gowerton
Kidwelly v Llangennech
Tenby United v Hendy

DIVISION 1 WEST CENTRAL
Ystalyfera’s 16-3 home win over previously unbeaten Glynneath blew the title race wide open and took them to the top of the table last weekend. With a one point advantage at the half-way stage of the season, they head to Tondu this weekend as they continue to try improve on last season’s runners-up spot.

Glynneath, meanwhile, will be hoping to mount a major recovery in another top of the table clash when they host third placed Boynmaen. They then meet fellow league rivals Ammanford in the last 16 of the WRU National Plate next weekend.

Ammanford, two-time winners of the Plate, head to Waunarlwydd in an important game at the bottom of the table. Skewen head to Maesteg Celtic and Kenfig Hill travel to Aberavon Quins.

Aberavon Quins v Kenfig Hill
Glynneath v Bonymaen
Maesteg Celtic v Skewen
Tondu v Ystalyfera
Waunarlwydd v Ammanford

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