Skipper Garyn Daniel’s side have built up a six point lead at the top of their table after posting eight wins and two draws to date this season. At the heart of their effort has been outside half Jordan Lloyd, who has scored 150 points to date.
The club’s coaching trio of Andrew Bishop, Ian Evans and Kevin Jones will no doubt be eyeing up a possible league and cup double, but last season’s runners-up and 2012 champions, Penallta, will provide a stern test. They have lost only once this season and currently sit third in the Division 1 East table and will have home advantage.
The 2013 Plate winners, Heol y Cyw, will need to overcome in-form Division 1 West Central outfit Trebanos if they are to be in with a chance of repeating their success from three years ago. Trebanos have not lost a game since their opening day league defeat to Maesteg in September and have racked up 100 points from the opening two Plate rounds.
The Swansea based side mean business, and have strung together eight league wins on the bounce, including the solitary defeat of table-toppers Aberavon Quins. Another team who have gone over 100 points are 2013 runners-up Rhydyfelin.
They brushed aside Garndiffaith and Carmarthen Athletic in their first two Plate games amassing 135 points in the process. They face an intriguing home clash with last season’s Division 1 West Central runners-up, and 2009 and 2011 Plate champions, Ammanford.
North Wales champions Pwllheli travel down to West Wales for a tie against Llanelli Wanderers. Pwllheli eased past Caernarfon in the first-round before being made to work hard against Ynysddu before earning a 37-21 victory in round two. It will be no easy trip for the Gogs as The Wanderers have won four of their last five games and lie
second in the Division One West table.
Nant Conwy are another team eyeing up a league and cup double as they host Maesteg Quins in round three. The North Wales outfit can count themselves unlucky in recent years as they agonisingly missed out on the league title last year to rivals Pwllheli by one point.
And they were pipped by Penallta to the Plate crown in 2012. But a strong start to the first-half of the season sees them top Division 1 North and face a side who have lost their previous two.
Aberavon Quins are the surprise package in this season’s Division 1 West Central, but they face a tough away tie to East mid-table side Brynmawr who have won three from their last four games. The Quins endured a nail-biter in round one as they edged league rivals Kenfig Hill 15-14, but comfortably beat Ruthin in the previous round, 27-14.
Llanishen, from Division 2 East Central, will fancy their chances in an intriguing, all-Cardiff match-up against 2014 runners-up Rhiwbina. Both sides have had inconsistent seasons so far, with Llanishen squeezing their way through to round three after a 22-22 draw against Tenby, going through on try count.
In the WRU National Bowl, Wales legend Shane Williams aims to guide Amman United to the Principality Stadium as he extends his playing career at the Division 3 West side. Williams and Co. Travel to face Division 3 East Central B basement boys St Alban’s, who nudged their way into round four with a tense 18-17 win against Blaina with Amman overcoming Hartridge 22-5 to set up the tie.
Last season’s WRU National Bowl champions, Burry Port, continue their defence as they play Division 3 East Central side Tylorstown, who had to overcome Penybanc 11-7 in a tricky round three tie. And 2016 beaten finalists Taffs Well are still on course to avenge their heart-breaking 20-18 loss to Burry Port last May.
They face a hard round four fixture against Newport HSOB, who cruised past Trinant 21-9 in the previous round. Cambrian Welfare have a point to prove in this season’s Bowl, as they narrowly missed out on a place to play at the Principality Stadium following their 14-11 semi-final loss to Taffs Well last season.
Cambrian are a team on a mission having thumped Pentrych 59-8 in the opening round before shutting out Tonmawr 40-0 to seal their place in round four. They face a Birchgrove side who score tries for fun after their 93-10 demolition over Girling in the previous round.
WRU NATIONAL PLATE – ROUND 3
Abercarn v Llandudno
Blackwood v Rumney
Brynmawr v Aberavon Quins
Croesyceiliog v Kidwelly
Gowerton v Abergavenny
Heol y Cyw v Trebanos
Llanelli Wands v Pwllheli
Llanharan v Mold
Llanishen v Rhiwbina
Nant Conwy v Maesteg Quins
Nelson v Cardiff Quins
Old Illtydians v Dowlais
Penallta v Treorchy
Rhydyfelin v Ammanford
St Peter’s v Builth Wells
Ystalyfera v Mountain Ash
WRU NATIONAL BOWL – ROUND 4
Baglan v Trimsaran
Bangor Uni v Wattstown
Betws v Cardigan
Cambrian Welfare v Birchgrove
Cilfynydd v Machen
Denbigh v Tonyrefail
Milford Haven v Nantgaredig
Monmouth v Llantwit Major
Nantyffyllon v Treharris
Newport HSOB v Taffs Well
Oakdale v Caerphilly
St Alban’s v Amman United
Swansea Uplands v New Dock Stars
Treherbert v Newtown
Tylorstown v Burry Port
Wrexham v Pontycymmer
