WRU Championship
Preview-Newcastle Emlyn v Dunvant
Dunvant are the visitors to Ddol Wiber tomorrow afternoon and the red and whites will be looking to make it third time lucky as the last two contests between the two on home soil have ended in a draw.
These are the sort of matches that Marc Lloyd and his team of coaches would have identified as ‘must wins’, when the fixtures first came out of the hat and these type of lower league encounters are the crucial tests that could well prove to be the difference between either fighting to stay up or sitting comfortably just below mid table at the end of the season.
Dunvant ofcourse will be looking at this game in much the same way, as there is very little to choose between the sides in terms of league success this term although the Broadacre men have played the top two in Pontypool and Tata Steel, whereas Emlyn have yet to experience the pleasure of their company.
The Swansea men have gone for an attacking line up with pacy winger Adam Williams-Parry having moved to full back and he will look to use the wide open spaces at Ddol Wiber and hit Emlyn on the counter. Inside him centre Sam Crowley is an accomplished player and at stand off James Davies is a classy performer with a long and accurate boot.
Coach Marc Lloyd has also tinkered with his back line and has brought John Lumb back in to play on the right wing and has shuffled Shaun Leonard across to centre alongside Alun Howells. Veteran Barry Thomas continues at fly half in the absence of Nico Setaro and James Owen comes in at full back.
Up front number eight Luke Kendalll who was sorely missed last week comes back in after injury with powerful running Brynmor James alongside him at blind side and Gareth Thomson at open side. Second row Dan Havard, one of the few to shine at Glynneath last weekend, packs down alongside Ryan Morgans in the engine room and in the front row Lloyd has gone for the power of Gethin Davies at tight head alongside skipper Alex Williams and loose head Emrys Davies.
There should be a big crowd at Ddol Wiber tomorrow for a contest that is very hard to call and this vital encounter is very much a cup final sort of game as both teams really need to win and supporters will be very aware of this.
Defeat for either will not be a disaster but it would make a huge difference in terms of league status, not just for this weekend but possibly in many months ahead.
Kick off 2.30
Sponsors/ Noddwyr /
Staff Ysgol y Ddwylan
John Davies, Cwmbettws
Mike Ramsey
Youth team players
Cads a ffrindiau (Dathlu ymddeoliad)
Coors
