Cross Keys head coach Greg Woods is confident his side can still qualify for the quarter finals of the British and Irish Cup as they prepare for Saturday’s meeting with Ealing Trailfinders.
Keys host the Trailfinders at Pandy Park having lost just four times all season. Two of those defeats have come against Leinster A, the side top of Pool 1 and 10 points clear of Keys in the cross-border competition.
As they continue to search for a quarter final spot, Keys have been in good recent form. They progressed to the second round of the SWALEC Cup last weekend with a 23-17 win over Neath and got the better of Aberavon before Christmas.
“It’s up to us to see if we can qualify, a runner’s up spot is still within our grasp,” said Woods.
“We’ll need ten points from our next two games and it will be very difficult, we know that. Ealing are a very tough side and they’ve come into form in the last few weeks. They’ve beaten Moseley and Nottingham in the last month but we’re at home and we’ll be giving it a right crack.”
In fourth place in the Principality Premiership, Keys have had a successful first half of the season with only top two Pontypridd and Carmarthen Quins beating them domestically. In the away fixture against the Trailfinders earlier this season, Woods saw his side win 24-15 and is hopeful of a similar result this weekend.
“We’ve always wanted to compete on all three fronts and if we win on Saturday, then we’ll still be in contention in the British & Irish Cup,” he added.
“We had a fairly quiet Christmas and were a little bit rusty against Neath in the SWALEC Cup last weekend. It’s always nice to win at The Gnoll though and we’ve had some good training sessions this week.
“The squad is fit and healthy and our home games in the British & Irish Cup are the marquee fixtures for the club.”
While not looking past Saturday’s game, Woods reckons his side are in with a shout of the Premiership title.
“Looking at the league, we have to be aiming for a play-off spot,” he said. “We’ve only lost two league games all season but we’re half way through the season and there’s a long way to go to the finish. The Premiership is a lot tighter this season and I think the top five sides at the moment can all compete for the title.”