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Rugby Preview
Fixtures for the 24th October 2009
What an awful week for your resident tipster as I could only manage six results correctly and the other five ‘up the river’ – and my only (very lame) excuse is that three of those five came about with a late swing in the result!
With a full 13 games this Saturday it is a case of ‘Must do better’ – or else!
Division One (West):
Carmarthen Athletic v Whitland
Matches between Carmarthen Athletic and Whitland are traditionally hard fought and this one will be no exception as the Athletic look to bounce back from a 42-20 defeat at Llangennech. They are in sixth place in the table so Whitland will need to be at their very best for this one. Verdict: A narrow win for the Borderers!
Narberth v Corus
Narberth will be buoyed up after beating Bridgend Athletic and Corus, currently fourth in the table, beat Builth Wells 39-10 so will also be in confident mood. Verdict: I hope the Otters prove me wrong again – but I have to go for Corus on this occasion.
Division Three (West):
Crymych v Morriston
Crymych will have been really disappointed to lose last Saturday and coaches Elgan Vittle and Lyn Williams will have geed them up this week in training for a home tussle against a strong Morriston outfit. Verdict; Crymych to make amends with a good win.
Gorseinon v Cardigan
This is another difficult away clash for Cardigan and they will need to be fired up to snatch a result against a side which is traditionally strong at home. Verdict: The Teifisiders are going well but I think Gorseinon will edge it.
Penclawdd v Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest had a huge success against basement side Llanybydder and have the chance to leap-frog over Penclawdd in the table if they win here. Verdict: I have to pick Penclawdd with home advantage!
Division Four (West):
Amman United v Tenby United
Tenby United lost last weekend against the Quins and now face an equally tough fixture as they travel to Amman United, who edged out Pembroke to move into fifth place. Amman have a useful set of backs so the Seasiders will need to be strong in defence. Verdict: Amman United to win here.
Betws v Pembroke
Pembroke have yet to win away from Crickmarren and lost their home record last Saturday whilst Betws have won just twice from seven starts. Verdict: If the Scarlets have a strong side on the bus they can make amends and win well at Betws!
Milford Haven v Burry Port
Milford Haven coach Alan McClelland will definitely have his team raring to go against seventh-placed Burry Port but the visitors are no mugs since they have lost just twice from six starts. Verdict: Mackie’s boys to bounce back here, and with a bonus point too!
Pembroke Dock Quins v Pontarddulais
Two wins from their last two matches have given the Quins the tonic they needed but it all depends on their squad strength for a visit to Pontarddulais, who are fourth in the table and with a game in hand. Verdict: I really hope the Quins make it a win hat-trick but it’s the Bont for me in this one!
Division Five (West):
Fishguard v New Dock Stars
Seven wins out of seven for Alan Phillips’ strong Fishguard outfit but he will remind them that they took it easy against Furnace and almost paid the price. Opponents this time are New Dock Stars, who are in sixth spot so are no walk-overs. Verdict: The Seagulls to fly high again and leave the Stars earth-bound!
Furnace v St Davids
Boosted by a smashing victory at Pontyates, St Davids will hopefully take a full squad to Furnace because they face a far tougher side here that pushed Fishguard all the way. Verdict: Furnace to win despite the Saints battling all the way.
Llangwm v Pontyates
Llangwm lost heavily at Neyland but put far more into it than the final scoreline showed. The Wasps will hope to follow St Davids by beating Pontyates, who really are struggling after losing key players. Verdict: A big win for Llangwm – if Pontyates can raise a side!
Swansea Uplands v Neyland
Neyland have won well the last two weeks and travel to Swansea Uplands knowing that the homesters have lost all six matches, most of them by big margins. The All Blacks have John Tennick and skipper Mathew Williams back in the squad and Adam Collins has scored six tries in those two matches. Verdict: No doubt about this one – I’ll eat my hat if Neyland lose!
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