It is back to business tomorrow for Cardigan with a crunch league encounter against Neyland, the only team to have beaten them this season.
The highs of getting through to the quarter finals of the WRU Bowl have been blown away in training this week following a reality check from coach Colin Horscroft as the popular rugby man is far more interested in gaining promotion.
The Gollop Stand faithful have been very patient in recent times but they are getting restless and they would like to see their favourites competing at a higher level with more competitive fixtures. Horscroft who will complete two years in charge at the end of the season has improved many aspects at the town club and there is a far more positive atmosphere around these days and the next few months promise a great deal for both players and supporters.
However, Cardigan have to keep winning as there is a dogfight developing at the top of the table with two other times in the race for the title in the shape of leaders St Clears and second placed Milford Haven. The pressure is building and the Cardi’s need to deliver again, starting with this crunch encounter with the All Blacks, especially as their nearest rivals appear to have win bankers with St Clears entertaining Tregaron and Milford taking on Llangwm.
Horscroft has made several changes, some enforced, from his WRU Bowl line up and crucially some key combinations have changed. Arwyn Wilson comes in at scrum half with Llyr Jones moving across to stand off with Iestyn Crompton starting at full back. Stand out performer Emyr Harries is injured and Sion Hughes takes over at centre alongside Marcus Castle. Bedwyr Davies comes in at hooker and loose head Tomos Evans, one of the best players on the field last Saturday has to settle for a place on the bench with talented young prop Will Brice coming in on rota. Tight head Ben Hughes is the only survivor from the front row trio that started last week.
There is also a change at second row with utility forward Dan Evans taking over from Dean Harries who is also injured. The only combination that remains unchanged is the back row of Kieran Hurley, Gareth Clifford and number eight and skipper Llyr Griffiths. This was a no brainer following the outstanding performance of this triumvirate last time out. Powerful back rower Colin Davies returns on the bench after returning from the ski slopes.
Neyland have been a bogey side for Cardigan over the years but coach Horscroft will be first to admit that his team were poor when they played them away earlier in the season when they lost out 15-12. On that miserable afternoon they allowed themselves to get dragged into an arm wrestle with both the All Blacks and the official in charge.
Their opponents tomorrow have only beaten St Davids and Pembroke Dock Quins on the road this season and this away record is unlikely to improve as Cardigan should be too powerful all round.
