NORTH MEETS WEST IN THE BOWL

WRU National Bowl

Cardigan v Denbigh

Cardigan are back on the cup trail tomorrow and take on North Wales rivals Denbigh in the last sixteen of the WRU Bowl.

If Llyr Griffiths and his men can clear this hurdle they will be only two games away from a cup final appearance at the National Stadium, but they will face a tough challenge against a division two north west side who like Cardigan are currently in third place and have only lost one league game to date.

Skipper Griffiths and his men have beaten St Davids, Laugharne, Usk and Betws so far but they are going to have to up their game for this one as their opponents are in good form having won six on the trot in the league.

Coach Colin Horscroft has remained loyal to the squad that has served him well over the past few months although he has drafted in former club skipper Dylan ‘Rambo’ Davies into the second row alongside Dean Harries with Rob Connolly on the bench. Davies has been turning out for Newcastle Emlyn in the WRU Championship and he is one of the best line out jumpers around at this level and adept at stealing opposition ball. Crucially Horscroft a former Cardigan hooker has given the number two jersey to Aled Phillips rather than Bedwyr Davies who has been one of the first names down on the team sheet in recent weeks. The absence of Connolly who is normally the thrower in at the line out may have tipped the balance here.

Gareth Clifford gets a start at blind side as powerful ball carrier Colin Davies is unavailable and Kieran Hurley plays at seven alongside number eight Griffiths. Tomos Evans and Ben Hughes start at prop with experienced tight head Richard Jones on the bench and a good man to come on in a crisis.

John Lumb returns to full back following suspension and Horscroft will be looking for a big game from this talented line breaker who has the ability to run defences ragged. Marcus Castle and Emyr Harries are the tried and trusted combination in midfield with Iestyn Crompton at ten and Llyr Jones at scrum half. Dafydd Watkins and Rhydian Jenkins provide the pace out wide.

Denbigh are a side in form but they are up against some weak clubs in division two and they have been very fortunate with their draw in this competition with some plum home ties and they have yet to be really tested. They sneaked through in the last round against a Tonyrefail side that are struggling this season and Cardigan will certainly be a step up for the north walians.

Discipline has been a problem in recent months for the Cardi’s especially in this competition with Horscroft and his men finishing games with men in the bin so they are going to have to address this. They should though be in the draw for the next round as they have a squad strong enough to see them through.