Championship preview: Keys aim to teach students a lesson

Keys won for the first time since January last weekend when they edged out Glamorgan Wanderers in round one of the WRU National Cup.

The 22-21 success at Pandy Park ended a 14-game losing streak that had resulted in their relegation from the Premiership.

After opening the Championship with a heavy loss at Bedwas, Keys aim to get their league campaign up and running when they entertain Met.

The students started the season with a 20-20 draw against title hopefuls Bargoed and are a dangerous team at this time of year.

However, Keys are in buoyant mood after the way that they battled against the Wanderers, when Ian Newbury's last-gasp try was converted by Kieran Hill.

Team manager Mark Prangell said: "To be honest the score didn't reflect the game – we should have won more comfortably but Keys like to do things the hard way!

"The boys showed good character to keep on going and their spirit was showed when the subs were running over from the side of the pitch to celebrate, and they all stuck together after the game.

"We had 23 players and not one was on permit. We are building from scratch and our first aim is to stay up, but that was a really positive performance.

"We want to build on that this weekend but know it is going to be a really tough game because they beat Ystrad Rhondda (64-12) in the cup, and they are a very good side.

"Cardiff Met are a dangerous side and we have to make sure we find touch and cope with their pace and expansive game, but our back row was outstanding last week and hopefully they will continue that."

Pontypool have enjoyed a super start to the season, beating Beddau in their league opener and then claiming another Premiership scalp when they overcame Swansea 29-15 in the cup.

Pooler take their 47-game league winning streak on the road to Ystalyfera, newly promoted from Division One West, and won't want to slip up ahead of the mouth-watering home encounter with Neath on September 28.

However, boss Leighton Jones insists minds aren't already drifting to the clash with the Welsh All Blacks.

"The boys never look two of three games ahead because we have had tough games with Ystrad Rhondda and Rhydyfelin when they have come up in recent years," said the head coach.

"We know that Ystalyfera will test us and at training on Tuesday there was no talk of Neath or the next round of the cup.

"It's a bit of the unknown for us but one thing we do expect is for them to chuck everything at us in an onslaught because we are the champions for the last three years and it's a bit of a cup final for them.

"The win against Swansea was pleasing but we are still not firing at our best. We fully expected that because of new boys coming into the side and knew it wasn't going to click straight away, but they are getting up to speed and hopefully we can take another step this weekend."

Bedwas have responded well to a summer of change after their relegation from the Premiership with an opening day win against Keys and a surprisingly one-sided thrashing of Tata Steel in the cup.

Stefan Sankala's men have run in 17 tries in two fixtures but it promises to be much tighter when they make the trip to Beddau, who battled to narrowly avoid the drop last season.

Bargoed had to settle for a share of the spoils at Cardiff Met on opening weekend before losing 26-7 to Premiership side Aberavon in the cup, their points coming from a pair of former Dragons with Steffan Jones converting Rhys Buckley's try.

The Bulls lamented the lack of a cutting edge against the students and failure to make the most of a strong performance up front at the Talbot Athletic Ground, so will be keen to get the campaign up and running when they entertain Maesteg Quins.

Fixtures: Bargoed v Maesteg Quins, Beddau v Bedwas, Cross Keys v Cardiff Met, Glamorgan Wanderers v Tata Steel, Narberth v Trebanos, Neath v Ystrad Rhondda, Ystalyfera v Pontypool.