Last week's WRU Plate and Bowl ties gave us some great matches and the usual upsets.
Highlights in the Plate was Rhuthun win at high flying Bala and in the Bowl Wrexham emphatic home win against Div 2 leaders CRDinbych.
The 2nd Round Plate draw has been announced and has not been very kind to say the least to our remaining six clubs with the exception of Llangefni who host in form Rhuthun at Cae Smyrna the remaining clubs face long journeys down South, matches to be played on 28th October-- I will do a full preview idc.
The 3rd Round Bowl draw has been kinder with home ties for COBRA, Newtown, Shotton Steel -Rhyl away at Cardiff University and a mouth watering clash at Wrexham when they entertain Teirw Nant. -again matches to be played on 28th October.
Its back to league action on Saturday as we pass the quarter mark of our season of 22 matches. Three points separate the top three of Pwllheli, Nant and Bala. The chasing pack are 5 points adrift with a spread of three points between 4th and 8th places. All to play for in Week 6 , intriguing matches, here are my predictions for Div 1--
Bottom club Colwyn Bay who are currently in the doldrums with no points so far this season will be desperate to get something out of the visit of 9th place Bro. The visitors will travel down the A470 with expectations to get their third win of the season and reverse the narrow 19-17 they suffered last time they visited the Seasiders. Away win on the cards.
My match of the day will be third place Bala's visit to Maesdu Road to face 6th place Llandudno. The visitors will be smarting after their early exit from the WRU Plate when they lost at home to Rhuthun last time out. Tudno go into the match on the back of a good home win against a strong Mold side, they boast one of the best defensive record in the league and this will be put to the test on Saturday. Both teams play at a very high tempo and will be well matched. Bala snatched a 25-21 victory last time, close again but Tudno are increasingly becoming more consistent in their performances and could take the spoils.
Second from bottom Bethesda welcome second place Nant. The Quarrymen have only a solitary point to show after five outings which is scant reward for their performances in these matches. They will, on form, face a tough challenge on Saturday and will expect no favours from Nant who have scored three times as many tries and points and conceded three times less points ., therefore the form book suggests only one winner. It will be closer than the 57-0 drubbing last time but I go for an away win.
Mold (5th) are away again when they travel to The Morfa to take on Caernarfon (8th). There are 3 places and three points separating these teams, it was close last time the Cofis holding on to 18-16 victory. Could be close again, Caernarfon will have to cope with Mold's forward power and their injury problems could work against them.They have not been playing well of late -I have a hankering for an away win here.
Fourth placed Llangefni make the trek to Bodegroes to face league leaders and current champions Pwllheli. They last met in a league encounter at Pwllheli in March 2016 losing out 32-17 but during that season in which Pwllheli were crowned champions and Cefni relegated they were one of the two clubs who inflicted a defeat on the champions beating them at home 17-16.
The Islanders face a stiff challenge on Saturday against an in form Pwllheli side and whilst 'Hogia Sir Fon' will battle all the way I predict a home win.
Rhuthun (7th) W3 L2 host Dolgellau (10) W1L4. Rhuthun have been this season's surprise package taking some big scalps none more so than on Saturday when they came back victorious from Bala. Dol are giving a good account of themselves without getting their rewards. In their last league encounter (2015/6) Dol lost out 9-8. Rhuthun are the form side and I back them to take the spoils.
Summary
Rhuthun v Dolgellau HOME
Pwllheli Llangefni HOME
Caernarfon v Mold AWAY
Besda v Nant AWAY
Llandudno v Bala HOME
CBay v Bro AWAY
In Div2 match of the day could be third placed COBRA visit to Wrexham who had a big win against league leaders CRDinbych last Saturday.
In Div3 Holyhead will be keen to get back on track when they host Mold 2nds after losing their unbeaten record last week at Machynlleth.
Hywel
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