Indigo Premiership preview
THE Indigo Premiership semifinalists may have been sorted out, but there is still top spot to be played for in the regular league as reigning champions Llandovery look to pip Newport at the post.
The Drovers have two games left to play and need to secure maximum points to go one point clear of the Black & Ambers to set-up a repeat of last season’s play-off final against fourth placed Cardiff at Church Bank.
Cardiff completed their campaign with a 47-24 home win over Merthyr last weekend to stay in the hunt and will face the top ranked team in the knock-out phase. Ebbw Vale completed their league season with a 16-10 home win over Pontypool on Thursday night and will travel to face the second placed team in the semifinals.
The Steelmen threw down the gauntlet to the three other semifinalists as they ended their regular league campaign on a high by overcoming the one team they hadn’t beaten this season, Gwent rivals Pontypool.
Tries from Harry Weldon-rees and Ethan Phillips, with two penalties from Evan Lloyd, did the trick for Ebbw. This time it was Lloyd who earned the bragging rights over his younger brother, Morgan, who scored Pool’s only try to add to a conversion and penalty from the boot of Matthew Jarvis.
“We found a way to win in a frustrating game. There wasn’t much flow or speed to the game, but we found a way to win,” said Strange.
“Our set piece dominance was clear throughout, although we didn’t get as much reward from that area as we felt we deserved. We couldn’t get much speed around the ruck area either, and we will need to get better for the semi-final.”
Llandovery welcome Swansea to Church Bank this weekend before completing their league season with a Thursday night clash at home against Bridgend.
The Ravens are also in action this weekend, when they host Merthyr.
The Ironmen still have a chance of finishing fifth in what will be their final season in the top-flight for at least three years having decided not to bid for a place among the 10 clubs due to play in the new EDC competition in 202425.
Their cup and league hopes crashed in their last two games with a narrow defeat to Llandovery at Principality Stadium in the Premiership Cup final and then that league loss at the Arms Park. Bridgend, meanwhile, are licking their wounds after a 89-26 mauling by Newport in their last game.
Neath will want to put on a good show for their fans in the final game of the season at The Gnoll after learning this week they had failed in their bid to join the EDC next season. Aberavon host Carmarthen Quins in the other game this weekend.