Forget the Welsh Cup today – two cracking competitions lower down the pyramid take centre stage

Okay, the JD Welsh Cup is something special this season, but two other much lesser-profile but nonetheless highly-valued knockout competitions offer plenty of excitement on Saturday.

The remaining semi-final of the Tier 5 NWCFA Junior Challenge Cup between CPD Mountain Rangers and CPD Aberffraw is taking place, as are the semis of the NWCFA Intermediate Challenge Cup, which are a Tier 4 East v West affair.

Menai Bridge Tigers, leaders of North Wales Coast West Premier, host Llandudno Junction of NWC East Premier, while CPD Nefyn United of the West entertain East hopefuls Mochdre Sports.

Junior Cup

Aberffraw are having a fantastic season, currently being just one of two senior North Wales teams still unbeaten in all competitions.

Berffro are top of North Wales Coast West Division One with an 11-point lead, and are undefeated in 15 league and cup matches.

Quite a contrast to last season, where they did not win a single game and were relegated from the Premier.

The popular Anglesey club have a potential treble in sight and look a good bet to bring at least one piece of silverware back to Cae Cynlas.

However, semi-final opponents Mountain Rangers are a more than useful team themselves and will make the going tough for the islanders at Cae Gors.

In their one meeting with Berffro this season, Rangers were beaten 4-0 in the league at Cae Cynlas. Revenge?

Intermediate Cup

Take your pick here!

Menai Bridge Tigers top the North Wales Coast West Premier and are on an unbeaten run of 12 games ahead of their clash with Junction at Treborth.

The Railwaymen have had a mixed season to date, but lie a respectable fourth in the East Premier and are a renowned good cup side.

This pair last met in the 2021-22 Intermediate Cup, Junction winning 4-1 at home.

Nefyn are a cracking outfit this season, having won their last five matches without conceding a single goal. They are third in the West Premier and on course for a title push.

However, they host a Mochdre team very capable of a big result and performance.

Sports are fifth in the East Premier and hold a very impressive 2-0 win over back-to-back Cookson Cup finalists Kinmel Bay in this season’s Intermediate Cup.

Possibly. Tigers and Nefyn enter today’s ties as favourites with home advantage, but you simply can never write off Junction or Mochdre – experience and cup knowhow in abundance.