Welsh Conference previews – Saturday 25th June

Welsh Conference fixtures – Saturday

West Wales Raiders Reserves v Cardiff City Rugby League @ Mynydd Y Garreg RFC, 14:00

Aber Valley Wolves v Bridgend Blue Bulls @ Senghenydd RFC, 14:30

Junior Fixtures – Sunday

Under 13s:

Bridgend Blue Bulls v Torfaen Tigers @ Pyle RFC

Aber Valley Wolves v DC Wildcats RL @ Senghenydd RFC

Under 15s:

West Wales Raiders v Rhondda Outlaws @ Mynydd Y Garreg RFC

Under 17s:

Swansea Valley Rhinos v Bridgend Blue Bulls @ Trebanos RFC

West Wales Raiders v Aber Valley Wolves @ Stebonheath RFC

Rhondda Outlaws v Cardiff City RL @ Baglan Field, Treherbert

Bridgend Blue Bulls travel to Aber Valley Wolves and West Wales Raiders host Cardiff City RL on Saturday as the Welsh Conference reaches its half-way mark.

Any one of three of those sides could be top come Saturday evening. The Wolves, currently top, have the worst points difference, so could slip to third in the five team league should they slip up Senghenydd.

Bridgend Blue Bulls’ team manager Steve Smith is looking forward to their biggest trip of the season which will be a repeat of the last two Grand Finals.

“We’re excited for this game as it’s been a stop start season,” he said. “We’ve put the Cardiff game behind us and are looking for the win. We have a young squad sprinkled with experience and bags of enthusiasm.”

Aber Valley Wolves’ coach Bobby Andrews said: “It’s always a tough game against Bridgend Blue Bulls. It’s the match of the season for us at home and one that all the players are up for. The last two seasons’ Grand Final results will still be hurting and we want to get the win on Saturday to maintain our position at the top of the table.”

Meanwhile, Cardiff City RL will look to take over top spot if they beat West Wales Raiders reserves, who were soundly beaten at Aber Valley last week.

With West Wales not having a first team game this week, it’s likely that their reserves will be strengthened and will give the capital side a tough game.

Cardiff coach Ben Thomas said: “We’ve got the momentum going again after our defeat to Wolves a fortnight ago. We’re looking to carry on some good form and better the result from the opening day of the season. We expect West Wales Raiders Reserves to be hard to break down but the boys are looking forward to the challenge on hopefully an exciting afternoon.”

Raiders coach Jon Ellis said: “This season has been a difficult one for our reserves. On Saturday it will be the first time for us to play at Parc Gwenllian this year as we invite our linked club Cardiff City down West. We understand that it’s going to be a tough game as Cardiff’s results have been very positive this season plus the last time we met it ended in a draw so it should be a rather exciting encounter.”