Holyhead RFC land plum Cardiff tie in Shield quarter-finals

Holyhead Rugby Club face a long journey south to take on Cardiff Saracens in the quarter-finals of the Specsavers National Shield next month.

Saracens, unbeaten in Division 3 East Central C, host the North Walians for a place in the semis on Saturday, January 11.

Holyhead are the sole flag-flyers for the north in the last eight of the Shield after an emphatic 38-5 win over Llanrumney last Saturday.

The Holy Islanders, who are enjoying a tremendous season as they also occupy second spot in Division Three North, proved too strong for their Cardiff visitors in a third round clash at Bryn-y-Mor.

It was a complete performance from Caergybi, but the game was a closer contest than the score suggests with their Division 3 East Central C opponents battling throughout.

Their constant plugging away helped secure them a try at the end of the match.

Holyhead will be delighted with their display, the rock solid defence barely giving Llanrumney an inch, and the resulting slick counter attacking creating multiple line breaks. The hard work in training really came to fruition on the pitch.

Home tries were scored by Paddy Maguire, Tim Plevey, man of the match Max Peters, Raymond Lear, Gethin Rowlands and Meirion Evans. Rhodri Parry landed four conversions.

With Denbigh seconds beaten at home by Pontardawe, Holyhead are now the only northern representatives left in the Shield.

The quarter-final draw is: Cardiff Saracens v Holyhead, Hollybush v Cwmgwrach, Rhigos v Pontardawe, South Gower v Bettws.

Holyhead squad: Gareth Evans, Meirion Evans, Marc Hughes, Paddy Maguire, Greg Palmer, Max Peters, Liam Price, Eifion Rowlands, Jordan Watts, Tino Williams, Patrick Evans, Jack Gibson, Ben Jordan, Curtis Lewis, Aron Parry, Rhodri Parry, Richard Parry, Tim Plevey, Gethin Rowlands, Clark Thomas.