Rugby fixtures and previews involving Pembrokeshire rugby sides for Saturday, November 4th (2.30pm):

Championship:

Tata Steel v Narberth

With Pontypool 15 points clear, the Championship already appears a battle for second place - a battle which The Otters are currently in charge of.

But after easily dispatching of bottom side Glynneath last week, tomorrow is a tough away day in Tata Steel.

The hosts are fourth, just two points behind Narberth, but Sean Gale's side are now more than experienced at this level, and won't be fazed by a trip to Port Talbot.

Tom Powell and Dewi Williams come into the back row, and with No 8 Richard Rees one of many to excel last week, The Otters will be up for the for the forward battle.

And if they can get the edge there, they have the quality out wide to seal what would be an important win.

Narberth: Ianto Griffiths, Liam Hutchings, Joseph Hutchings, Gethin Gibby, Jonathan Rogers, Rhys Lane, Bradley Davies, Dan Smith, Ryan Rees, Jake Simm, Alex Jenkins (capt), Dewi Williams, Tom Powell, Richard Rees.

Replacements: Rhys Davies, Rhodri Owens, Ryan Banner, Lewys Gibby, Jack Parkinson.

Division One West:

Gowerton v Crymych

The Preseli Men are finally up and running, hammering Penclawdd 40-12 last week to move out of the bottom two.

Young forward Scott Jenkins was one of many to impress, and Crymych’s young side should not be full of confidence despite a tricky trip to Gowerton.

The Swansea based side are in good form mind, having won four and drawn one of their six league games, and ended the 100% record of Dunvant with a superb 16-5 away victory.

Crymych have gone up a notch these past few weeks, but to record a second straight league win tomorrow, they will have to go up another one again.

Tenby United v Dunvant

Adapting to life back in Division One West has been tough for The Seasiders so far, winning two league games and losing five.

And they have another stern test tomorrow against leaders Dunvant, who notched six straight wins before that surprise defeat by Gowerton.

On paper, Tenby boast a squad of collective strength, but starting with tomorrow, they need to start fulfilling their potential or will soon be looking over their shoulders at the bottom two.

Division Two West:

Fishguard v Mumbles – postponed

It’s another week without a game for Fishguard, with the visitors having strangely called off on Thursday night as they are unable to raise a side.

St Clears v Tumble

A game that the Carmarthenshire Saints will view as must win.

The home side go in six points clear of bottom of the table Tumble, and Mike Jones will know any kind of victory will put real daylight between them and the Llanelli based side.

They did lose to the same opponents in the National Plate earlier this season, but I expect that to have little bearing on tomorrow.

Having said that, Tumble came within a whisker of a win at Fishguard earlier in the campaign, and will be targeting this as another potential result.

Expect both sides to be fired up.

Whitland v Pontarddulais

Something has to give tomorrow as the two remaining undefeated teams in Division Two West meet at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn.

The Borderers were below par in the first half against Tumble in the National Plate last week before getting their act together to win comfortably – but expect them to be fully firing from the off tomorrow.

Scott Newton, Jonathan Thomas, and Marc Jones all come back in against a Pontarddulais side that like Whitland, has won five from five league games and beat Fishguard 28-0 last time out.

Whitland’s last league outing was a 17-6 win against previously unbeaten Hendy, and a similar result tomorrow will be another real statement of intent in their bid to bounce back from last season’s relegation.

Whitland: Scott Newton, Liam Price, Jonathan Thomas, Alun Howells, Sean Coles, Nico Setaro, Adam Davies, Tomos Evans, Marc Jones, Michael Ryan, Dai Ebsworth, Raff Williams, Ben Kirk, Ryan Michael, Jack Mason.

Replacements: Jacob Dewhurst, Kris Allen, Josh Thomas, Danny Evans, Tom Parry.

Division Three West A:

Aberaeron v Llangwm

It will be Llangwm’s first game since being hammered 59-5 by Neyland three weeks ago, and it’s a tough one to come back to.

Although Aberaeron’s only two league defeats have been at home to Milford and Haverfordwest, they have begun with a physical set of forwards and have proven a force up front.

How strong The Wasps travel will be critical to their chances of getting anything, but first and foremost, their pack will have to dig deep.

Otherwise, it could be a long day at the office.

Laugharne v St Davids

In some respects, I bet Laugharne couldn’t believe their luck when they were given a third straight bye in the national Bowl last week.

But on the contrary, three extra weekends without a game has done little to help continuity, and they actually go into tomorrow having played three league games less than opponents St Davids.

However, The Cocklemen enjoyed a big win at Cardigan last time out, and will be keen to get back up and running tomorrow against a St Davids side they twice beat heavily last season.

The Saints competed well in the first half against Haverfordwest last week before eventually losing 43-0 as The Blues cut loose second half.

To get anything from tomorrow, they have to turn a 40 minute display into an 80 minute one.

Milford Haven v Pembroke Dock Harlequins

A big clash is in store at The Obs, and any Milford complacency that may have arisen from their good early season form should have been wiped out last Saturday when they nearly blew a 22-0 lead at Cardigan.

But Alan McClelland’s men held on, and will need to be focussed again here against The Quins.

Jamie Lewis has slotted in well at No 10, and Dan Jenkins has again been a real force in midfield with another two tries last Saturday.

But whilst The Mariners have been clinical at times, the visitors are more than capable of threatening, and were prepared to dig deep to overcome Neyland 13-11 at Bierspool on Saturday.

In Lewis Davies they have a kicker who can punish indiscipline, something Milford should be wary of after two yellow cards last week, and led by centre Thomas Doyle, they are improving rapidly.

This game could be worth a watch.

Neyland v Tregaron

The All Blacks are building, and their recent team sheets have been noticeable for the amount of youngsters coming through.

The Buirds brothers and Hari Williams are amongst those to have made promising debuts in recent weeks, but Steve Martin will know that his side now need to turn narrow defeats into wins if they are to end up with a successful season.

And after their 33-11 loss to Pembroke Dock Quins last week, they have a chance of a second league win tomorrow at home to Tregaron.

The visitors have dangerous players, with Ieuan Wyn equally effective at scrum half or full back, but they have thus far struggled for supremacy up front in matches.

If Neyland can get the platform up front, then they have the back line capable of doing real damage to the Mid-Wales side.

Pembroke v Haverfordwest

A huge game at Cricmarren sees leaders Pembroke play second placed Haverfordwest.

The Scarlets, their loss at Milford aside, have been rampant thus far, regularly showing an ability to pile on points.

The power of back rowers Sam Smith and Dom Colman has been crucial in laying foundations, and behind the scrum the likes of Tom Lewis, Toby Smith, Dan Colley, and Sean Dalling are all benefitting from the extra space.

But Pembroke have also conceded their fair share of points, and will be in for a much tighter contest tomorrow against a Haverfordwest team hitting full stride after a slow start.

Centres Matty Phillips and Gareth John have formed a good partnership in midfield, and Rhys Baker displayed his finishing ability last week with a try hat trick at St Davids.

Whether experienced campaigners Lewis Wood (No 8) and Steve Lewis (outside half) come in for this one remains to be seen, but The Blues will undoubtedly pick their strongest XV available.

The teams met in the National Bowl earlier in the season at Haverfordwest, with Pembroke winning 31-24, and we could be in for another titanic battle tomorrow.