RUGBY PREVIEW
Cardigan v St Clears
Cardigan have an early season opportunity to stamp their authority on division three tomorrow afternoon with the visit of St Clears, a team with very similar plans.
Getting up into division two was the main objective laid down by both clubs before a ball was kicked in anger this term but the Cardi’s who currently lead the table,were derailed a few weeks ago away at Neyland and they have to front up tomorrow and show that they are the real deal.
The Saints were also moving along quite nicely until they were knocked off the track last week when they lost their 100% record against Milford Haven and this game represents a perfect chance for both teams to make a mark and put a severe dent in either team’s promotion ambitions.
Town coach Colin Horscroft has watched his troops blow hot and cold over the past couple of months but when his team have been focussed they have been very impressive and they are the team to beat.
The Saints have enjoyed wins over Pembroke Dock Quins, Laugharne, St Davids and Tregaron, all of which were comfortable ones and their first major test came last week at the hands of the Mariners.
Skipper and centre Rob Granville is a hard runner, full back Geraint Jones has a trusty boot and up front St Clears have some experienced campaigners in the form of hooker Dafydd Page and back rower Aled Page and a powerful number eight in Carwyn Davies.
The Carmarthenshire team, who were missing a couple of regulars struggled up front against their Pembrokeshire rivals last week and to add salt to their wounds they conceded a push over try late on and this will have been noted by Horscroft a former hooker at Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn.
The Cardi’s have made some changes from the team that started at Llangwm and notably in the scrum where they have drafted in hooker Bedwyr Davies and the Emlyn front rower has always done the business whenever he has stepped down from Ddol Wiber to play. He is joined in the front row by Ben Hughes and Tomos Evans.
Interestingly there is no place in the starting line up for back rowers Colin Davies or Gareth Clifford, two of the most natural break down players in the squad and superb at turning the ball over. Horscroft has opted for the trio of Gethin Jones, Kieran Hurley and number eight and skipper Llyr Griffiths and this is a tried and tested threesome.
Davies, a very powerful ball carrier, will be very effective when he comes on in the second half and another interesting player on the bench is John Lumb. The talented full back who has played a few times in the WRU Championship this term was picked to start a fortnight ago against Milford and was one of the best players on the park however Newcastle Emlyn were late naming their side for their trip to Tata Steel tomorrow and Lumb could well be drafted into their squad.
Iestyn Crompton starts at fifteen and Horscroft has gone for two scrum halves in Aaron Evans at nine and Luke Rogers at stand off, whilst hard running centre Marcus Castle comes back after injury and will slot in alongside co centre Emyr Harries in the midfield.
Cardigan will start as favourites on home turf and a large crowd is expected for this tasty top of the table clash.
The Gollop Stand faithful are getting very itchy about division three rugby and would dearly love to see their team back up the divisions and this must win affair gives Griffiths and co a perfect opportunity to make a major step in that direction.
St Clears photographs supplied by Cefin Vaughan Photographer.