By David Parsons
Max Boyce will lead a Glynneath invasion of the Principality Stadium this weekend – when the only thing still left standing in the village will be the statue to the great man himself.
Rugby’s most famous bard will be at the head of 16-strong unit of coaches heading for Cardiff on Sunday.
The exodus from the village is to watch Glynnneath take on Llanelli Wanderers in the WRU Division 1 Cup Final.
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It would have been a bigger land force, but club present Max and his men could only commander 16 buses.
The final is one of seven taking place across the divisions over the weekend, part of the Road To Principality celebrations.
Current Glynneath head coach Grant Epton, who was in the team that lost on Glynneath’s last visit to the Stadium – back in 2011 when they were beaten in the Swalec Plate Final by Ammanford.
“We will be better prepared to take it this time, and it sounds as though the whole of the village will be there supporting us,” said Epton.
“I’m hoping it will feel like a home game and I know it is going to be noisy.”
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Probably the most well-known era of Glynneath was the ‘Invincible Season’ in 1961-62, when the team captained by Bas Thomas won 37 and drew four of their 41 games. They won the Championship Cup, League Shield and Silver Ball Trophy.
The current team is chasing a League and Cup double as they sit third in League 1 West central, nine points behind leaders Tondu, but with two games in hand.
But opponents Llanelli Wanderers are having a superb campaign on top of League 1 West, with just one defeat in 16 matches.
Welsh bookmakers DragonBet make Glynneath underdogs to lift the trophy at 7/4, with Llanelli Wanderers favourites at 4/11.
“It would be nice to do something to match the great sides of the past. We’re third in Division 1 West Central at the moment and need one more win to guarantee promotion,” added Epton.
https://twitter.com/DragonBetWales/status/1776248750941335917
Road to Principality Finals Day – Saturday April 6
Men’s Division 5 Cup Final – KO 11:00 – Dinas Powys v Seven Sisters
Men’s Division 4 Cup Final – KO 13:15 – Newport Saracens v Tonna
Men’s Division 3 Cup Final – KO 15:30 – Blaina v Cardiff Quins
Men’s Division 2 Cup Final – KO 17:45 – Porthcawl v Llanharan
Sunday 7th April – (Broadcast live on S4C)
Men’s Division 1 Cup Final – KO 13:00 – Llanelli Wanderers v Glynneath
Men’s Championship Cup Final – KO 15:15 – Bargoed v Ystrad Rhondda
Men’s Premiership Cup Final – KO 17:35 – Merthyr v Llandovery
