The hopes and ambitions of Newcastle Emlyn, Crymych and Cardigan as they move into the second half of the season differ significantly apart from the common goal which will be to finish as high up as possible in their respective leagues.
Newcastle Emlyn have enjoyed a mixed campaign to date and will be looking to consolidate their spot just around mid-table and to keep out of the danger zone, whereas Crymych will be happy to end their season in the fifth spot they currently hold. Promotion for them is not a realistic goal although the Preselimen may well influence the destiny of the silverware as they are good enough to beat the top teams and they face leaders Kidwelly next week.
Cardigan though are going flat out for promotion back up to division two and they have looked the best side in the title run in so far but they are struggling with injuries.
Beddau are the visitors to Ddol Wiber tomorrow in the WRU Championship and the red and whites will be looking to blow away their festive cobwebs and start the New Year with a win over a side currently lying in fourth place. Newcastle Emlyn coach Marc Lloyd will be glad to see the back of 2016 as his squad was decimated with injuries and he was never able to pick the same team for two games on the trot. He will though look back at some outstanding wins especially away from home when he was often forced to field a team missing key players and this will give him plenty of encouragement going into the second half of the season.
The green and golds have produced some of the finest individuals that have played for Wales in the last twenty years in the form of Neil Jenkins. Michael Owen and Gethin Jenkins and they are a very tough outfit and they gave Emlyn a torrid time in the 69-3 defeat back in September but that result will count for little on this occasion as Lloyd and co are a much better team, albeit still missing a few key men
Inspirational skipper Alex Williams is not in the squad for tomorrow’s game due to injury and Neil Elworthy takes over at hooker and he is joined in the front row by Emrys Davies and Gethin Davies. Dan Havard and Ryan Morgans pack down at lock with an ultra-mobile three of Gethin Davies, Joel James and number eight Brynmor Jones behind them in the back row. Dafydd Evans starts at inside half with Mike Jones on the bench and Mitchell Jones plays at stand-off. Richard Hope and Tomi Jones are the midfield combination with Dan Davies and Llyr Jones on the wings and Shaun Leonard at full back. Beddau are struggling with a long list of injuries especially up front but they will still pose plenty of problems and the heavy conditions will work against the red and whites but this is a game they can win.
Crymych travel to Waunarlwydd without a number of senior players and they will have their hands full against a side struggling near the foot of the table in division one west but who are tough to beat at home. The Preselimen will be without number eight Guto Davies as he is out for several weeks because of work commitments and he will certainly be missed as he has been a very consistent performer. Coach Neil Machin has drafted in Llyr Davies to operate at the base of the scrum alongside Osian Davies and skipper Tom Powell.
Machin has been forced to field a new half back partnership in scrum half Dafydd Phillips and stand off Jake Jenkins with Rhys Davies missing through injury. Regular scrum half Mathew Roebuck has also been switched to centre with Carwyn Phillips unavailable and this will be a big test for Crymych. However Powell and co do have a habit of sneaking wins against the odds so hopefully they can do this again at Waunarlwydd.
In division three west Cardigan should be far too strong for a St Davids team that have yet to register a win in ten games. Coach Colin Horscroft was faced with a scrum half dilemma as his number one choice Luke Rogers has gone off to sunnier climes on a travel adventure and Aaron Evans is side lined for a few months with knee ligament damage and this could not have come at a worse time for the Town coach with promotion very much the focus.
Horscroft has opted for utility back Llyr Jones to take over at inside half at St Davids, a position which many observers feel is his best position. Jones has filled in at fly half, centre, full back and wing but he is a decent scrum half and kicks well and he deserves a run at nine. Another option may have been to utilise second team scrum half Arwyn Wilson who has played many times for the first team. Jones will link up with vastly experienced fly half Iestyn Crompton who is going to be a very important figure for the team over the next few months. If he gets injured Cardigan will struggle big time unless they get someone in.
There are forced changes to other key partnerships with blind side Gethin Jones coming in to join Dean Harries in the second row instead of Rob Connolly who is unavailable. The big lock is also a very accurate thrower at the line out and his absence could cause a few problems. Flanker Kieran Hurley will be a key jumper in the line out along with Harries.Powerful ball carrier Colin Davies is also out and Horscroft will be looking for another big game from skipper and number eight Llyr Griffiths and centres Marcus Castle and Emyr Harries. Another big match player missing is full back John Lumb and hopefully he and Davies will be back soon with an important cup match against Denbigh looming.
