All roads lead to Church Bank, Llandovery this Thursday when the top two teams in the Indigo Premiership – Cardiff and Llandovery – join battle writes Huw S Thomas.
It will be a game that will go a long way in deciding who might finish top of the league come the end of April.
The Blue and Blacks and the Drovers have each lost two games since September and are favourites to claim play off places but both realise the importance of finishing either first or second – which would give them home games in the semi final play offs on May 6
The top team will be home to the fourth placed side and the second will have home advantage over the third placed club.
As it stands, Cardiff are eight points ahead of Llandovery but have played one game more so a home win tomorrow would make things far tighter at the top of the table.
The fixture at the Arms Park on October 29, ended 29-26 in favour of Cardiff but the Drovers came away with two points after scoring tries through Rhodri Wall, Stuart Worrall, Ricky Guest plus a penalty try as well as keeping within seven points of Cardiff
In a tempestuous last few minutes, Cardiff were penalised four times near their own line, luckily avoiding yellow cards.
The Drovers could have easily settled for a draw with a close range penalty but went for the winning try, only to be denied at the death after being held up on the Cardiff line too many times to count.
TV and radio commentator Phil Steele described the tussle as” a cracker and terrific advert for the Indigo Premiership which has gone up a notch on the evidence of this game.”
Two of the Premiership’s heaviest points scorers and goal kickers – Jack Maynard with 118 points and Dan Fish on 97 points – will be in opposition tomorrow and there will be extra spice added to the occasion in that the Llandovery trio of Maynard, prop Llyr Green and flanker Lloyd Pike will be all out to prove a point against the club that released them.
Cardiff hooker Alun Rees had a short spell at Church Bank but failed to make a big impression and he has been in fine form for the capital club since linking up with his former Bedwas coach Steve Law.
Law, experienced, shrewd and demanding, has made Cardiff the side to beat in the Premiership over the last few years but he knows full well that the Drovers have always challenged his sides, whether it be Cardiff or Bedwas.
The S4C clic cameras will be in attendance for what is expected to be a big crowd for the battle of the current top two semi-pro sides in Wales (KO 7 30 pm). It all makes for a real humdinger.