The draw has not been kind with 6 of our 8 clubs with away trips.
Whilst I am 'confined to barracks' for a few days I have been looking at matches in Round 2 of the Plate and Round 3 of the Bowl not forgetting the WRU National Youth/Plate/Bowl Cup Round 2 matches which are confined to North Wales at this stage.
In the 2nd round Plate, three of our Div 1 teams take on 3 teams from Div 2 West Central- Bala welcome long established colliery village Dulais valley club Seven Sisters to Maes Gwyniad. The visitors are in 8th position in their league with a P5 W2 L3 record.The Sisters former players include Phil Davies and Llangefni's very own Eddie Burford. The Bala boys are showing improved form following an uncharacteristic poor start to the season and they will be keen to progress to the next round.
The Cofis make the journey to Resolven in the Neath area. Again Resolven play in Div 2 West Central and are enjoying a good season holding second place in the league with an unbeaten 6 game record. Notable former players include prop Stuart Evans. The Cofis are going well after an inconsistent start to their league campaign and another win on the road would go down well following their success at Dinbych last time out.
Unbeaten League leaders Llandudno welcome Div 1 West Central Maesteg Celtic to Maesdu Road. The Celtic are one of several clubs in a hotbed of a rugby Bridgend/Maesteg area. They are currently in mid table with a P6 W3 L3 record. It will be a hard contest but the Goats are going well and should have the confidence to go into the hat for the next round.
Pwllheli last year North Wales Cup winners and currently unbeaten in second place in the league table make the journey to Swansea to face Birchgrove who are again in Div 2 West Central. The Parc Bedw outfit are going well, leading their Division, unbeaten in seven outings. Something will have to give on Saturday between these unbeaten sides and 'Hogia Llyn" will have to pull out all the stops to return home with a victory.
Last year's proud finalist Nant Conwy travel down the A470 to the Pontypridd area to face div 2 East Central Cilfynydd. Nant are not yet firing on all cylinders this season but their renowned spirit should hold them in good stead against a good home side who have a P6 W5 L! record so far this season.
CR Dinbych after a great start to their season following promotion have allowed their form to wane of late but a cracking losing display against in form Caernarfon last week at Caeau Les Philips would have improved their confidence. They face a tough ask as they make their way to The Memorial Ground in Ely Cardiff to face Div 1 East Central side the famous Glamorgan Wanderers who boast Sam Warburton and Josh Navidi as ex players.The Wanderers are having a mixed season in a tough league P7 W4 L3 record. Dinbych will be all out to cause an upset here.
In the Round three of the Bowl, Dolgellau going well in Div 2 travel to Gwent to take on Rhymney. The hosts ply their trade in Div 3 East B, they are in second place with a P5 W4 L1 record . On their day Dol can up their game and will on recent form have confidence to move into the next draw.
Colwyn Bay also travel to Gwent to take on Div 3 East A side RTB Ebbw Vale who have a P4 W3 L1 record . So far this season Bay have been playing well but need to get into the 'winning' habit. This match is a great opportunity to convert good performances to a winning result. (RTB ??-- Richard Thomas and Baldwin ex steelworks)
Byes --Teirw Nant, Pwll 2nds, COBRA, Wrexham.
In Round 2 of WRU National Youth Cup Dolgellau who are unbeaten in the NW Division host Dinbych who are 6th in the NE Division.
Unbeaten league leaders Nant Conwy welcome neighbours Colwyn Bay who have only lost one game so far this season.
In the Plate NE Division table toppers COBRA entertain Bangor who are going well in the NW league, whilst second placed Rhuthun host Caernarfon who have only lost once this season.
The Bowl sees Aberystwyth travel to in form Newtown whilst its a local derby at Shotton when neighbours Mold come calling.
Pob hwyl i'n timau adref,ag yn y De. Gobeithio welwn ni gyfraniad helaeth yn yr het Dydd Mawrth !!
Beat wishes to all our teams home and away, let's hope we will see a good number of our clubs in the hat for the next round draws next week !!
Hywel.
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