With the country blanketed in snow on March 3, Tuesday and Wednesday evening sees the postponed Welsh Rugby Union National Cup quarter-finals take place.
The tie of the round on Tuesday sees two of the founder clubs of the WRU in action – Championship holders and current leaders Pontypool visiting Premiership holders and current leaders Merthyr at The Wern.
Pooler are unbeaten this season, including knocking out current second-placed Premiership club Carmarthen Quins 23-8 in the last round, and will no doubt relish their underdogs tag after normally starting every league match as favourites due to the controversial ring-fencing of the Premiership.
Last season’s Cup run saw Pontypool overcome Llanelli and Cardiff on the road before finally succumbing to Cross Keys on a bottomless Pandy Park. The 3G pitch in Merthyr, for a team that includes a 10/12 axis of former Welsh international Matthew Jones and Kieran Meek (son of former Welsh international hooker Nigel), should hold no fears after their win last season at the Arms Park.
Merthyr will no doubt seek to play to their strengths and overcome Pontypool up front, and will be looking for big performances from key forwards such as skipper Craig Locke and Osian Davies who return to the starting line-up after being benched against Llanelli at the weekend.
The two clubs last met in the Championship in 2015-16, Pontypool winning 20-13 at The Wern and Merthyr winning 33-13 at Pontypool Park.
What a difference a day makes ❄☀️ see you tomorrow @PontypoolRFC pic.twitter.com/qW4yuxF94F
— Merthyr RFC 🏉 (@RFCMerthyr) March 19, 2018
Tuesday will also see another interesting east Wales clash, as the Premiership’s sixth-placed Bedwas entertain seventh-place Newport in an intriguing Gwent derby.
These are the only two clubs to have beaten Merthyr at The Wern this season, highlighting the strength of the remaining clubs notwithstanding the first round exits of last season’s winners RGC and runners-up Pontypridd.
The performance of Black & Ambers outside-half Matt O’Brien when Newport recently defeated Merthyr 19-18 at The Wern has earned much praise, and Newport will be looking for another big performance from him if they are going to overcome home advantage.
On Wednesday, there is another Dragons region derby match as the Premiership’s eighth-placed Ebbw Vale travel to 14th-placed Bargoed, with both teams wearing mis-matched socks to support World Down Syndrome Day and raise money.
After a poor start to the season, Ebbw Vale are now finding some form under new head coach Greg Woods and they will be looking to the Cup to salvage something from what is a rebuilding season.
Struggling Bargoed, perhaps a victim of the east/west split of the Premiership, are likely to have something to say about that and a midweek trip to Bargoed Park is a challenge for visiting clubs.
The final quarter-final tie sees 2012 winners Cross Keys entertaining 2016 winners Llandovery at Pandy Park. The Drovers are the last west Wales side in the competition, but it is unlikely they will be particularly relishing their long midweek trip to Gwent.
This fixture is likely to be determined by whichever side can impose their contrasting style of play on the match. A faster aerobic challenge would favour the visitors, a slower set-piece battle undoubtedly favouring the host club.
Tuesday 20 March
Merthyr v Pontypool (KO 7.15pm)
Bedwas v Newport (KO 7.15pm)
Wednesday 21 March
Bargoed v Ebbw Vale (KO 7.15pm)
Cross Keys v Llandovery (KO 7.30pm)
