For the 1st XV, the reigning Plate champions, it is a third round trip to Cwmgors, while the 2nd XV head to Oakdale in the Bowl for a fourth round clash. Will the dream of a double trip to Principality Stadium for WRU National Finals day in May still be alive on Tuesday when the draw is done for the next round?
“We’ve got a few problems managing the squads for two tournaments because you have to have two distinct groups of players. We’ve got a couple of injuries, but everyone is excited at being involved in the cups,” said club secretary, Wayne Jones.
“Our player-coach Gregg Haines went in for an operation on his hand on Thursday and is out for a while and that means we’ve had to call up a hooker form the Youth team. We are a relatively new team this season and we are probably punching above our weight at the moment.
“It has been great for the 2nd XV, or F Troop as they are known, to be involved in the Bowl this season and they will have a lot of fans following them to Oakdale. The fact they were able to play in the competition meant we got back some players who had retired a few seasons ago.
“Rhys Silcox and Sean Powell both played for the 1st team when they won the Plate in 2012 and it has been great to have them back in the club.”
Penallta are currently top of Division 1 East and will be regarded as favourites going into the game at Cwmgors.
The home side beat Brynamman 19-10 in the last round, with Steve Rees kicking three penalties and Connor Launchbury and Luke Gronert getting the tries, but they are languishing in eighth place in Division 2 West Central in league rugby.
“It is a bit of a banana skin for us. We are really pleased with where we are as a team this season, but we know this is going to be a really tough trip,” added Jones.
Penallta beat Risca 27-19 in the opening round and were then even more convincing winners in Round 2 as they beat Pencoed 58-10. That made it nine successive league and cup wins.
The three Maesteg clubs all made it through to the third round, squeezing every ounce of advantage out of their home draws to bag wins by one score or less. Maesteg beat Dunvant 37-33, Maesteg Celtic triumphed 18-16 over Llanelli Wanderers and Maesteg Quins edged out Pontypool United 14-10 in three thrillers.
The Quins received a Bye into the fourth round, while Maesteg will host Gorseinon and Celtic will entertain North Wales champions Pwllheli in a really tough game. It was a tough draw for the North Walians with Ruthin drawn to travel to Croesyceiliog and Nant Conwy due to head to unbeaten Whitland.
Taffs Well got an early taste of what awaits them in the fourth round of the WRU National Bowl when they went to Treharris and won 33-19 in a Division 3A East Central league clash at the end of last month. Now last season’s runners-up are looking to make it a quick-fire double.
Treharris edged a thriller at New Tredegar, 19-18, to reach the fourth round, while Taffs Well gained ample revenge over Burry Port for their 2016 final defeat with a 23-16 home win.
Cardiff University are setting their sights on a trip to the Principality Stadium after their 33-7 win over Rhyl in the last round. Their reward was a third successive home draw against another North Wales side, Shotton Steel, this weekend.
Monmouth were the biggest winners in the third round with a 61-12 triumph over Penybanc and they also host northern opponents this weekend with a visit from Newtown.
WRU NATIONAL PLATE – ROUND 3
Aberystwyth v Glamorgan Wanderers
Blaenavon v Waunarlwydd
Croesyceiliog v Ruthin
Crymych v Tondu
Cwmgors v Penallta
Llantrisant v Ynysybwl
Maesteg v Gorseinon
Maesteg Celtic v Pwllheli
Mountain Ash v St Joseph’s
Whitland v Nant Conwy
Ystalyfera v Bonymaen
Byes: Brynmawr, Maesteg Quins, Nelson, Treorchy, Ystrad Rhondda
WRU NATIONAL BOWL – ROUND 4
Cardiff University v Shotton Steel
Laugharne v Pembroke
Monmouth v Newtown
Oakdale v Penallta II
Penygraig v St Julian’s HSOB
Porthcawl v Trimsaran
Treharris v Taffs Well
Byes: Abercwmboi, COBRA, Deri, Hafodyrynys, Nantgaredig, Newport Saracens, Old Illtydians, Swansea Uplands, Wrexham
