Drovers look to put pressure on Ponty

LLANDOVERY head coach Euros Evans has challenged his team to continue their fine early season form and keep the pressure on Principality Premiership pacesetters Merthyr.

The Church Bank outfit sit third in the table behind only Pontypridd and the Ironmen at the summit and travel to Sardis Road for a crunch fixture tonight (7.30pm).

Victory over Pontypridd away from home would represent another step in the right direction for Evans’ side. “It’s a big year for everybody in the Premiership, but the important thing is trying to get momentum in the early part of the season,” he said.

“We did have a sticky patch where we had a couple of defeats, but we’ve bounced back well. If you take Merthyr out of the Premiership, it would be a very competitive league.

“The depth of the Merthyr squad makes it challenging for anyone to get near them. Relegation has definitely focused minds and there are no easy games in this league anymore.

“Every side is fighting very hard for every point, especially at home.”

Llandovery will hope to jump into second and leapfrog Pontypridd at the House of Pain, while Merthyr host Cross Keys and Ebbw Vale are at home to Newport in two Gwent derbies.

Carmarthen Quins and Cardiff – both level on points with Llandovery going into this weekend – travel to Swansea and Bridgend respectively. It is tight at the top.

At the other end of the table, rock bottom Neath are at home to fellow strugglers Bargoed but who will take to the field for the Welsh All Blacks remains anyone’s guess.

Neath – who have been served a winding-up petition in court – have confirmed “a number of players” have left the club with its future very much up in the air.

A hearing to decide Neath’s future will be held at Port Talbot Justice centre on November 26.

On the field, the action must continue but the men from The Gnoll look destined for relegation with 10 defeats from their 10 games so far this season.

In the other fixtures to take place, Aberavon host Llanelli and, on Saturday morning, Bedwas make the long trip north to Colwyn Bay for a meeting with an RGC side looking to bounce back from their defeat to Cardiff.

“The Premiership is a really good product and the players are really enjoying the exposure this season,” added Llandovery coach Evans.

“It’s too early in the season to be speaking about competing to win the Premiership, but I am confident we can be competing towards the top of the table at the end of the season.”