Nant eyeing up a victory in the Plate

NANT Conwy will aim to transfer their fine league form into the Swalec Plate this Saturday when they travel to Pontypool United in the last 16 of the national competition.

The Conwy Valley side, beaten finalists in the 2012 Plate Final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, need to see off Division Three East opposition if they are to make the last eight this time around.

Nant certainly enter this weekend’s tie in good form, having pulled off a superb 27-18 victory away to fellow Division One North high-fliers Ruthin last Saturday.

The Pant Carw outfit made it 10 wins in 11 starts and now lead the table by seven points ahead of the second half of the campaign.

Delwyn Jones handed them an early lead at Ruthin with a penalty before the Vale of Clwyd hosts hit back with a try from winger Sion Roberts.

In their first real foray near to the home line on 32 minutes, Nant No8 and captain Carwyn Ellis bundled over for a try from the base of a strong maul.

Two minutes later an excellent piece of opportunism from fly-half Sion Pringle brought a second away touchdown, Jones adding the extras to make it 15-5 at the break.

Callum Bennett landed a penalty for the hosts early in the second half, but then the Nant pack won a scrum against the head five metres out and Ellis pounced for his second score, Jones converting for 22-8.

Bennett kicked another three-pointer, then improved a try from Harry Morgan which reduced the arrears to four points.

In added time, scrum-half Ifan Jones powered through to clinch it for Nant.

Other scores: Ruthin 2nds 12 Nant 2nds 36; Llangefni Youth 0 Nant Youth 51.