THOMAS CARROLL SOUTH WALES PREMIER LEAGUE
ONLY time will tell how the abandoned match between Bridgend Town and Penarth last Saturday will impact on the bottom of the table come the last weekend in August, writes Tony Poole.
In the worst weekend of the summer for postponed games due to rain, not a ball was delivered in the top tier.
Ironically, the five matches were all due to be staged in the wet west at Ammanford, Bridgend Town, Mumbles, Neath and Pontarddulais.
Drier conditions in the east saw several matches get under way in what was a general reversal of what has unfolded in recent times regarding wet weather patterns.
Next up for seventhplaced Bridgend Town is yet another home fixture, this time against fourthplaced Port Talbot Town.
When the sides met earlier in the season at the New Mansel, Bridgend Town ruled the waves over the Pirates, scoring 202-8 and pegging them to 173-9.
Tom Baker’s side are now desperate for a win to distance themselves with the lone relegation spot.
The postponed game with Penarth on Saturday has left Bridgend 28 points clear of the Seasiders.
This means Penarth would require two wins compared to two Bridgend losses in order for them to overhaul Town.
Looking at the remaining five games for Bridgend, they are home to Newport on Saturday week, and then there’s a visit to another titlechasing club, Cardiff, on August 5.
The final home game of the season is against Ynysygerwn on August 12 while the last two games are both away, involving Pontarddulais and Mumbles.
Hopefully, Bridgend will find form on Saturday against Port Talbot Town to cast aside relegation fears, and enjoy a decent end to what has been a turbulent summer in Newbridge Fields.
The two sides vying to dine on the top table next summer are St Fagans and surprise package Tata Steel.
The Steelmen, who were only promoted back to the Premier League this season from the South Wales Association, picked up vital points on Saturday.
With the four other games in Premier Two all called off, the Steelmen posted 240-6 at High Cross and pegged Newport Fugitives to 211-9.
That took Tata Steel to within two points of the Stags, and its looking increasingly likely that the August 5 showdown between the clubs in Margam will have a huge bearing on the promotion issue.
But looking at the bottom of Division Two, things are looking desperate for Tondu, who are staring in the face a return to the South-East Wales League.
The Bryn Road side in line with most clubs in the division saw their match last Saturday at home to Carmarthen Wanderers called off due to continuous light rain.
Tondu remain isolated at the bottom, and are a massive 36 points away from eighth position – and safety.
If they are to turn things around then it will have to come soon, and on Saturday they travel to secondplaced Tata Steel.
While the wise money favours the Steelmen, some traditional Tondu grit would surely trigger a reversal in fortunes.
Latest Premier League placings after 12 of 18 stipulated rounds of fixtures: Cardiff 181 points, Newport 169, Pontarddulais 149, Port Talbot Town 144, Neath 141, Mumbles 128, Bridgend Town 115, Ynysygerwn 112, Ammanford 108 and Penarth 87.
Latest Premier League Two placings: St Fagans 175, Tata Steel 173, Panteg 161, Carmarthen Wanderers 143, Newport Fugitives 142, Miskin Manor 124, Swansea 124, Ynystawe 114, Clydach 110 and Tondu 79.
Looking at the two regional feeder leagues and the clubs seeking Premier Two status, Newbridge are firmly in the driving seat in the South-East Wales League.
The former Day’s Medical Aids Alliance side have a 31-point advantage over a Newport club that were a dominant force a quarter of a century ago – Malpas.
But it was an even bigger lead before last Saturday when Newbridge were dismissed for 220 at Malpas.
The home side then responded with 221-9 to take a cliff-hanger by one wicket – and just about keep their title aspirations alive.
And things are coming to the boil nicely down west in the South Wales Association with Llanelli going top last Saturday night.
The Sospans won by eight wickets at a surprisingly dry Merthyr Tydfil while their two main challengers, Bronwydd and Aberdare, suffered surprise home defeats against Dafen and rejuvenated Llandysul respectively.
With six matches to go, Llanelli have 232 points, Bronwydd 216, Aberdare 208 and Cowbridge 196.