Cup exits, but now it’s back to league

AFTER their cup dreams were dashed, it is back to the Principality Premiership for Carmarthen Quins and Aberavon as they clash this evening (7.15pm).

Quins’ hopes of a second WRU National Cup final appearance in three seasons ended with defeat at Championship leaders Pontypool last weekend, while Aberavon bowed out at Newport.

But it allows them to focus solely on the Premiership and both are playing their first league matches of 2018.

The Quins, who carried six points through after finishing third in the West Conference, will be looking to make it two from two in the combined Premiership having narrowly seen off Swansea on December 30.

The Wizards finished fourth in the West section before going down 30-7 at Llandovery in the first match of the second phase.

It was also the Quins who ran out 28-12 victors at Aberavon when they last met back in September.

Ahead of the latest meeting Quins head coach Richard Kelly said: “It’ll be a big challenge for us as Aberavon are a quality side.

“We’ve got a lot of boys away playing in the Anglo-Welsh again, but we’ll do our best to put a performance in and we trust whoever goes out there and takes the field for us.”

Reflecting on the cup exit at Pontypool, Kelly said: “The frustration for us was the timing and the quality we could have added to our team had it not been an Anglo-Welsh Cup week.

“That could have made a difference but I think, on the day, they played the conditions and the field better than we did and deserved it.”

There are also two other games this evening. Pontypridd can go top of the table, until tomorrow at least, with victory over Llanelli at Sardis Road (7.30pm).

And Bridgend Ravens host Cardiff (7.15pm) with both sides bidding for a first win in the second phase having lost at RGC and Newport respectively at the end of December.

Meanwhile, Bridgend will play their rearranged WRU National Cup clash with Ebbw Vale on Tuesday, February 13, at the Brewery Field.

The original tie, scheduled for last weekend, was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. The winners will travel to Bargoed in the last eight.

The Ravens have also rearranged two Principality Premiership for this month. They play at Cross Keys on Saturday, February 10 and at Bedwas two weeks later.