Penarth in battle for top spot (From Penarth Times)

Penarth in battle for top spot

A MERE 72 hours of constant rain finally wiped out all the rugby in the Vale of Glamorgan last Saturday and much of the rest of South Wales besides, so with the intervention of the Konica Minolta Cup, only two fixtures went ahead in Division Four (SE) last weekend.

Without a game in a fortnight, the Seasiders are still better off than their scheduled opponents Cowbridge,.

They have now suffered four league postponements in a row and will be facing a serious fixture backlog if this continues much longer.

The two fixtures completed did not make a great deal of difference to the promotion race either, as Dowlais and Bedlinog also didn't make it to the starting line and the successes of Llandaff North and Penygraig won't upset anyone.

The cup failed to deliver any surprises for Penarth's rivals. Cilfynydd obviously put up a good fight as they went down 13-38 at Division One Merthyr, but Taff's Well hit problems at Maes Gwyn as Premier Division leaders Neath made off with the rights to a fourth round tie 86-3.

The Cowbridge game has already been re-arranged and will now go ahead on New Year's Eve.

But despite fears of rescheduling, Saturday's game against Dinas Powys will go ahead as planned at 2.30pm on Saturday (December 10) at the Athletic Field.

It is the turn of Dinas Powys to test Penarth's mettle again following a 39-5 reverse at The Common back in September.

The neighbours have enjoyed rather different fortunes since then.

While the Seasiders are nicely tucked in second place behind leaders Penallta as a result of six further league wins out of eight, the Villagers find themselves pointlessly rooted to the foot of the table.

Elsewhere in the higher reaches, leaders Penallta play host to fourth-placed Bedlinog, while Taff's Well in third place welcome Llantwit Major.