National Bowl semi final (Dunvant):

Pembroke v Cardiff University

It is no exaggeration to say that for the majority of Pembroke players, they have a once in a lifetime chance tomorrow.

The Scarlets meet Cardiff University, with a win putting them into a Principality Stadium final.

Geraint Lewis' men have been in relentless form, losing just once this season, and showed no signs of slowing up last Saturday in beating Division Three West A title rivals Laugharne 32-15 on Saturday.

I expect them to have the edge in terms of size over the students, and again their formidable ball carriers up front will look to lay the platform for them. And as they have proven this season, if the likes of skipper Scott Powell, No 8 Sam Smith, flanker Dom Colman and prop Jonny Palmer, to name but a few, can get them across the gain line they have the backline to take advantage.

The composure and long range passing of Toby Smith at No 10 has made them a real force out wide, with centre Dan Colley in particular catching the eye this season, while the pace of wingers Simon Stanford and Barry John has ensured overlaps have not gone to waste.

And the Scarlets face an intriguing test tomorrow against a side they will know little about.

Long gone are the days when University rugby consisted of beer in the water bottles and a token hungover training session once a week. First team squads, Cardiff included, now have full time coaches, links to academies, and players who double up on weekends at semi professional level. With the latter in mind, it remains to be seen if Pembroke's opponents will be at full strength tomorrow.

But they will be well drilled and conditioned, and have reached this stage courtesy of wins over their Cardiff Medic counterparts (19-7), Pontyclun (22-20), Rhyl (33-7), Shotton Steel (36-13), Swansea Uplands (28-12), and Nantgaredig (19-0) in last week's quarter final.

However you look at it - it's a massive challenge for Pembroke, and given the prize that awaits the winner, one they will they will put their heart and soul into overcoming.

Pembrokeshire KO Cup semi final:

Aberystwyth v Tenby United

The Seasiders have lost form at the wrong time, and although they battled against the odds in Gorseinon last Saturday with as they travelled with a bare 15 players, a 26-18 loss meant a fourth straight league defeat.

Included in that run was a 24-10 defeat in Aber, and Chris James' team must raise the bar tomorrow if they are to make a third straight KO Cup final.

It was Aber who they beat to lift the trophy last season in an absorbing clash, and the teams appear pretty equally matched this time around, with eighth placed Tenby just a place below tomorrow's hosts in the Division One West table.

The Morgan brothers, Matthew and Jonathan, will again be two of the main threats for The Seasiders, while the finishing out wide of Yannick Parker this season has been a real asset.

Aber meanwhile, have only managed two league games since that win over their visitors on January 20th, both defeats against Felinfoel and then more notably, at struggling Kidwelly last week.

Neither side goes into this on the back of much momentum - but given the final will be against either Pembroke or Pembroke Dock Harlequins from Division Three West A, both will sense a big opportunity.

Championship:

Narberth v Newcastle Emlyn

The Otters got back on track last week with a 40-15 win in Glynneath, but it will be tougher tomorrow against a Newcastle Emlyn team who they beat 26-13 back on December 30th.

Emlyn also won last week, 29-9 against Bedlinog, and it was former Narberth player and outside half Ashley Sutton who stood out in that win. Their squad is also likely to include former Whitland scrum half Dafydd Evans.

Just like all season long, Sean Gale and his coaches have not been afraid to make changes, and Ianto Griffiths, Gethin and Lewys Gibby, Ryan Banner, Sean Jenkins, and Rich Rees all come into the starting XV.

Narberth are third, five points off Tata Steel with two games in hand, and a win here would set them up nicely for their home clash with the Port Talbot side on April 7th.

Narberth: Ianto Griffiths, Nick Gale, Kieran Jones, Paul Davies, Gethin Gibby, Jonathan Rogers, Lewys Gibby, Bradley Davies, Rhodri Owens, Tom Slater, Ryan Banner, Alex Jenkins (capt), Tom Powell, Sean Jenkins, Rich Rees.

Replacements: Ryan Rees, Steff Phillips, Dewil Williams, James Stephenson, Joe Hutchings.

Division One West:

Crymych v Gorseinon

The Preseli Men fought hard before going down in their National Plate quarter final with Ystalyfera on Saturday – but the brutal truth is they have no time for reflection as their attention now turns to pulling off a great escape.

Kidwelly’s win over Aberystwyth last week means Randal Williams’ team are 16 points off safety – but all is not lost as they do have five games in hand.

But they need to win them, starting with this clash against fourth placed Gorseinon.

Crymych do go in on the back of successive league wins against Penclawdd and Tenby, and skipper Rhys Davies and co must show the same grit and cohesion tomorrow against a side who also beat The Seasiders 26-18 in their last outing.

Their back row of Llyr Davies, Aled Harries, and Richard Sharpe-Williams worked tirelessly against Ystalyfera, and they must be on song again tomorrow if the home side are to get the edge up front. The inclusion of Wales Under 20s international prop Kemsley Mathias in the squad again on permit would also be a bonus.

Division Two West:

St Clears v Fishguard

A huge game for both sides in the battle to stay in the division.

Fishguard go in boosted by that 34-20 win over Pontyberem last week, a result that put them nine points of the bottom two.

The Seagulls have plenty of experience in their ranks, and their senior players came to the fore on Saturday as skipper Gavin Walsh, flanker Chris Shousha, and centre Ben John shared four of the six tries. There was also a promising display from full back Robbie Jones on his debut at full back - and coaches Gareth Thomas and Huw Evans will feel a similar team performance here will secure another big step towards safety.

The Carmarthenshire Saints meanwhile, were well beaten 29-7 at Mumbles, and Mike Jones’ side now have a huge two weekends ahead, with this game followed by the visit of second bottom Amman United on April 7th.

Dan Birch played in the centre on permit for them last week as they try and plug the gap left by the injured Mike Georgiou, and if he plays again tomorrow, is battle with John in midfield will be an enthralling one.

What will also be key is who gets in the ascendancy at the scrum, an area where both sides can be formidable, and it will be interesting to see if St Clears move Dafydd Page back to hooker after he started at No 8 next week.

It is St Clears who are perhaps under the greater pressure, knowing that defeat could see them in the bottom two by 5pm if Amman beat Pontarddulais.

Division Three West A:

Llangwm v Aberaeron

The Wasps worked hard against Cardigan without ever seriously threatening a result, and are currently struggling for backline options.

No 8 Jason Mock did stand out in that clash and with a few teams out of action this weekend The Wasps, if numbers are short, can at least bring people in on permit to boost the squad.

They will have their work cut out against an Aberaeron team who won 39-20 against Pembroke Dock last time out, and although much has been made of their big pack, they also displayed their prowess out wide with wingers Dyfrig Dafis and Ollie Sawyer sharing three tries, while the goal kicking of No 10 Rhodri Jenkins again flourished.

The Mid-Wales side beat The Wasps 80-0 at home, and while I don’t envisage anything like that margin this time, the home side will have to go up a notch to get anything from this.

Neyland v Cardigan

It was the story of Neyland’s season last week in Haverfordwest– another promising display from a youthful side, without getting the result they will feel their display merited.

Steve Martin’s team are moving in the right direction, but to start challenging at the top of the league they have to start getting over the finishing line against the better sides.

So a repeat of last season’s win over Cardigan at The Athletic Club would be welcome, but The All Blacks must improve their discipline having had three second half yellow cards in that loss at Merlins Bridge.

No 8 Scott Buirds has impressed this season, and he and the home pack will be tested against a physical Cardigan side, who ended a run of three straight defeats with that win at Llangwm.

The Teifisiders like to mix it up front and hooker Luke Palmer-Davies was one player to impress at Pill Parks, but the return of John Lumb at full back as also added class to their backline.

If both sides are at full strength, I can see an intense battle here.

Pembroke Dock Quins v Laugharne

With some key players back, The Quins pushed Aberaeron for much of the game last Saturday before a late surge from the visitors saw them run out comfortable winners.

But with Lewis Davies returning at outside half, Ossie Boswell has reason for optimism ahead of another tough game for them at Bierspool against Laugharne.

The title hopes of the visitors were dealt a severe blow by their defeat to Pembroke on the weekend, and they now face backlog of fixtures having only managed 11 league games so far.

So how they manage that workload, as well as the loss of influential No 10 Owain Davies to a broken wrist, will dictate how strong they finish the campaign.

Even without Davies they still have a dangerous backline and the form of No 8 Mikey Davies this season need no introduction.

The Quins will have to stop him, and also utilise their own pacey back division to have a chance here.