Premier League semi-finals preview

WRL’s Premier League has reached the semi-final stage with two mouthwatering clashes being played this Saturday at 2.30pm.

There is a slight restructure after reigining champions Bridgend Blue Bulls announced on Wednesday that they were unable to field a side this week, so Rhondda Outlaws have taken their place.

Minor Premiers Valley Cougars are favourites to keep up their unbeaten record but know that their local rivals Rhondda Outlaws will show no mercy in the match at Treharris RFC.

Cougars captain Scott Britton said: “With the Cougars having had the last couple of weeks off without fixtures, training has been intense with players really working hard to make the team for the last home game of the season.

“We are under no illusion that we are now in the knock out stages, and that what we have done leading up to this point means nothing, so we will have to be at our best if we are to continue our good form.”

Torfaen Tigers will hope to make it three wins out of three against Cardiff Blue Dragons when they meet in Cwmbran but they know it won’t be easy against a capital side that will have trained hard for this encounter.

Tigers chairman Rob Davies said: “The business end of the season is here. We set ourselves two goals at the start of the year following the (temporary) demise of Conference League South. The first was to blood as many youngsters into the first team squad as possible and the other was to win the League. We have achieved part one with 10 teenagers having made first team appearances over the course of the season.

“On Saturday we can take a big step towards achieving goal two where a win would see us contest three of the four Welsh Grand Finals for the second year running. We know Cardiff will be, as always, a tough side to beat. We’ll have to be at the top of our game to make the final.”

Torfaen have already qualified for the under 17 and 15 Grand Finals, the latter after beating Aber Valley Wolves 44-16 in the semi-final on Tuesday evening in Caerphilly. They meet U15 table toppers West Wales Raiders in this Final. Their opponents in the U17 showpiece will be Cardiff Blue Dragons with the top two sides going straight through to the Final in this age group.

The semi-finals of the successful under 13 competition take place this Sunday where Aber Valley Wolves host Bridgend Blue Bulls at Ysgol y Gwyndy in Caerphilly (kick-off noon) and DC Wildcats face West Wales Raiders at The Wern in Merthyr (kick-off 11am). 

Full play-off fixture list

SEMI-FINALS

Premier League – Saturday 5th August

Valley Cougars v Rhondda Outlaws – Treharris RFC, 2.30pm

Torfaen Tigers v Cardiff Blue Dragons – Cwmbran RFC, 2.30pm

Under 13s – Sunday 6th August

Aber Valley Wolves v Bridgend Blue Bulls – Ysgol y Gwyndy, Caerphilly, noon

DC Wildcats v West Wales Raiders – The Wern, Merthyr Tydfil, 11am

GRAND FINALS (Sunday 13th August – Glamorgan Wanderers RFC)

UNDER 13 – Aber Valley Wolves or Bridgend Blue Bulls v DC Wildcats or West Wales Raiders (kick-off 11am)

UNDER 15 – West Wales Raiders v Torfaen Tigers (kick-off 12.15pm)

UNDER 17 – Cardiff Blue Dragons v Torfaen Tigers (kick-off 1.30pm)

PREMIER LEAGUE – Valley Cougars or Rhondda Outlaws v Torfaen Tigers or Cardiff Blue Dragons (kick-off 3pm)