Chance of Llandovery RFC drawing Quins in semi-final
Long odds perhaps but an in-form Quins could be the surprise packet at the quarter-final stages of the first ever running of the SRC competition.
The Carmarthen side's outstanding 15-12 win over RGC at Colwyn Bay last Saturday at the so called 'wild card' stage , pitting eighth-placed RGC against ninth-placed Carmarthen Quins, now gives the West Walians a place in the quarter finals on May 3.
They face a difficult trip to Ebbw Vale in the realisation that a win at Eugene Cross Park would secure a place in the semi finals.
If they were indeed to get to the last four, they would proceed to play the winners of this Saturday's S4C televised Llandovery-Pontypool quarter final.
A Llandovery victory over Pooler on May 3 would guarantee a semi final spot for the Drovers against Ebbw Vale or Carmarthen Quins on May 10.
If it were to be an all West Walian semi final, the venue would be at Church Bank by dint of Llandovery having finished the higher of the two sides at the end of the regular season.
Were Ebbw Vale to beat the Quins and Llandovery beat Pontypool in the quarter finals, then the Steelmen would have home advantage over the Drovers through the same reasoning.
So what might happen in the quarter finals this Saturday?
Ebbw Vale are undefeated at home so the challenge for the Quins is huge but they will take confidence from an excellent win at RGC, through tries from wing Louis Rees, fly half Ifan Davies and replacement prop James Newnian.
If skipper and lock Lee Taylor can galvanise his pack to stand up to the aggressive power play of the Ebbw eight and get parity of possession, then a shock could be on the cards.
At Church Bank, the Drovers will have to be at their best against in-form Pooler who recently beat top of the league Cardiff 47-27.
Shorn of their top players, Llandovery slipped up 34-33 at Bridgend in their last game of the regular season but, even with the return of the likes of Lee Rees, Adam Warren and Joe Powell, they will have it all to do.
All West Wales rugby men will be keeping their fingers crossed that Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins can record a famous double over Gwent opponents, to set up a prospectively momentous Church Bank clash on May 10.
Wild card results: Bridgend 33 - 30 Swansea; RGC 12 - 15 Carmarthen Quins.
Quarter finals - May 3
Cardiff v Bridgend; Llandovery v Pontypool; Ebbw Vale v Carmarthen Quins; Newport v Aberavon
All kick off at 2.30pm except the televised Llandovery v Pontypool (5.15pm).
Semi finals - May 10
Cardiff or Bridgend v Newport or Aberavon; Ebbw Vale or Carmarthen Quins v Llandovery or Pontypool.
Final – May 17
Sides with highest regular season placing have home advantage at the semi-final and final stage.
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