GLYNNEATH LOOKING TO END BOGEY AFTER THEY HIT SUMMIT
GLYNNEATH have the lead to defend in One West Central after their bonus-point win at Aberavon Quins lifted them to the top of the table.
Their 34-11 victory extended their unbeaten run to eight games, which enabled them to leapfrog Ystalyfera ahead of next weekend’s derby clash with Skewen, who came down from the WRU National Championship with them last season.
Their recent record against Skewen makes for bad reading, with their last victory coming back in May 2013.
“For some reason Skewen have become a bit of a bogey team for us and they have a bit of a spell over us,” admitted Glynneath coach Grant Bignell.
“They had Regan King and Aaron Bramwell playing for them last weekend from Neath so we know they are going to come to us with a strong side.”
Skewen travel to Glynneath on the back of an impressive 31-7 win over Waunarlwydd, their third win on the bounce.
Kevin James showed great form at the right time as he bagged himself a hat-trick.
James Price and Lee Dunsford followed him over the line, with Anthony Buselli wrapping things up from the tee.
But Bignell is confident that his players will rise to the challenge.
“We are at home and will be confident after winning eight in a row,” he said.
“We managed to keep all bar two of our players after coming down from the Championship last season and a couple of other players returned to the club.
“The fact we don’t pay our players in any division means they are all playing for the right reasons.”
Centres Owen Nesbitt and Alex Burton both got on the scoresheet for Glynneath, as did hooker Craig Tennant and No. 8 Stuart Leach.
There was also a penalty try to enable them to move three points clear at the top.
As well as meeting Skewen this weekend, Glynneath also have to meet fourth-placed Kenfig Hill before heading to Ystalyfera on December 29.
“Kenfig Hill gave us a really tough time on the opening day of the season before we won 41-37 at their place,” added Bignell.
“We found ourselves trailing by 27 points before we hit back to win.
“There is a lot of tough rugby to be played before we go to Ystalyfera at the end of the month, so we can’t afford to take our eye off the ball if we want to stay at the top.”
Elsewhere in the division, Bonymaen kept themselves in the hunt with a 26-11 win over Ammanford, which leaves them just four points off the top.
In Two West Central, Birchgrove took advantage of Resolven’s postponed fixture with Pencoed to take over at the top.
Birchgrove came away from bottom side Cwmavon with a 27-7 victory to their name, which extended their unbeaten run to nine games.
Adam Percival, James Evans and Nathaniel Llewellyn all added to a penalty try to earn Birchgrove maximum points, while Lee Harris kicked the rest.
Cameron Bamford ensured Cwmavon put points on the board as he converted his own try.
The win means Birchgrove now lead Resolven by two points.
Elsewhere, Porthcawl returned to winning ways after back-to-back defeats to Pencoed and Builth Wells.
The Seaweeds beat Seven Sisters 20-8 in their own backyard to propel themselves back into the title race.
Abercrave’s eighth win in nine games saw them keep their place at the top of Three West Central A.
A brace of tries from Kelvan Ashby and a Dewi Pritchard try led them to victory, while Connor Hughes added three conversions and three penalties to seal a 30-19 win over Bridgend Sports.
Pyle kept pace with them thanks to their 32-19 win at Bryncoch. Vardre thrashed Neath Athletic 48-10 and Glais were narrowly beaten at Penlan 10-7.
Cwmllynfell are the new leaders in Three West Central B following a slender 15-7 triumph over Baglan.
They couldn’t reproduce the form that had seen them score 126 points in their last two games but they did enough to claim the win to join Baglan and Glyncorrwg on 30 points at the top.
In other action, Banwen were 3020 victors at Bryncethin while Pontrhydyfen eased to a 28-5 win over Rhigos.
Elsewhere, brothers Nick James and Dan James helped Pantyffynnon stay in touch with leaders Penygroes in Three West Central.
The siblings touched down in the 38-7 win over Cwmgwrach alongside Stuart Sutherland, Nathan Jones and Cellan Jenkins.
Nick James went on to kick five conversions and a penalty.
Penygroes’s 16-15 win at Pontardawe kept them in control, while Pontyates beat Fall Bay 29-5.
Cwmtwrch were 15-12 winners over Tonna and South Gower drew 26-26 with Furnace United.