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After the tribulations of the Six Nations that has left Welshman brimming with a rugby induced pride, we must come back down to Earth. It won’t be with a bump, but a gentle deflation as the helium like hype and hysteria slowly filters away and everyone settles back into the swing of league rugby.

Yet there is no time to wallow in the afterglow manufactured by a national team that is at its most competitive in the near 140 years of Welsh rugby. No chance. For Championship survival, which includes every club from fifth spot down, there is a relegation rumble like no other.

Saturday the Quins welcome their friends from Newcastle Emlyn. Who will ever forget the first trip to the outskirts of Adpar? First, the reception that was second to none. Then the match. It went the Quins’ way, with Lee Ronan on a monomaniacal mission to win the game on his own scoring a hat-trick.

Then the clubs were separated. Quins went into One West Central and Emlyn to the West. From this league, Saturday’s visitors convincingly defeated a strong Bonymaen to enter the realms of the Championship.

Ungenerously, many stated Bonymaen didn’t want the expense of going into Welsh club rugby’s second tier and threw the play-off.  Newcaslte Emlyn had an ambition. Never underestimate the invigorating qualities of a dream and it was the men from Teifi’s banks who triumphed.

What ambition too. Founded in 1977 with a community endeavor that would be the envy of any village, town or city district; Clwb Rygbi Castell Newydd Emlyn, in forty years they have evolved from Llanelli & District to the Championship, picking up four titles along the way. What a superb achievement.

Even more impressive is the quality of competitor the club has moulded to compete at national level. To focus on one – Welsh Grand Slam [never get sick of it!] scrum-half Gareth Davies. A nuggety player, with great skill and diligence. Who’ll ever forget THAT World Cup try at Twickenham? Emlyn unearthed him and for that, all Wales should be grateful to a village club that is a credit to our sport.

As the season pans out, the clubs who will be dropping down from the Premier League are coming to light. In 1992 Newcastle Emlyn played Neath in a trial match. If things go their way, they will be playing the Welsh All Blacks as league equals. What a turnaround!

This opportunity to face the Maltese Cross is a wonderful incentive for the Quins too. It was against another of Wales’ grand old teams – Pontypool they last turned out.

Quins set their defensive bar even higher in the Pooler match. It was truly exceptional in the face of a financially fuelled force the envy of Premier league clubs. Defend in the same fashion for the remaining eight games and the aim of a second season in the Championship will be achieved.

This dynamite defence will have to be exhibited time and time again from now until the first week of May, with no let up. Not that the players need telling, backing each other with the fortitude of the Devils of Camerone. Perhaps more than any other team witnessed so far this season, the coal black and blood reds have proven that alone we are miniature mounds. Together… they form a mighty Maesteg mountain.

Again, it will be a concerted collective crack at a guest, who know they have a very good chance of winning all their remaining matches, even though they are the team at the foot of the table.

Five of Emlyn’s six scheduled fixtures are against teams who are at most eight points above them. With home and away fixtures to come against the Quins and Tata, a single game at home to Newbridge plus one other, the aim will be to win them all.

On the field, one thing is almost certain and that is the contrasting styles of play that will be on view. Emlyn like to spread the ball. Former Nant Conwy out-half Arthur Lennon has been drafted in to instil a little more pragmatism in the back play. This is not to say the visiting pack will not be locking horns with anything less than skill and determination to show whose boss.

Alternatively, the Quins front five cudgel and waspish back-row will look to wear even the most lively visitor down.

On the table, whatever happens in their quest to rise up the ranks, for this week only Newcastle Emlyn will remain at the bottom whatever the result. If the Quins win and other results go their way, the Maesteg men may end the day in fifth spot.

CHAMPIONSHIP RELEGATION CLUBS

POS   TEAM                       P      PTS

  5      Trebanos                16      33

  6      Bedlinog                 17      33

  7      Tata Steel               15      30

  8      Beddau                   18      30

  9      Maesteg Quins        14     29

10      Newbridge              19      29

11      Rhydyfelin               16      28

12      Newcastle Emlyn     16     22

From team selection on Thursday until full-time on Saturday, the excitement will build until Quins meet their Ceredigion friends and see if there is indeed a push up the Championship table by the weekend’s end.

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