HAVING escaped the relegation trapdoor last season, it seems Ynysygerwn are in no mood to be hovering over the South Wales Premier League drop zone this summer.

The Neath Valley side have enjoyed a stunning start to the new campaign, with victories over Swansea and Ammanford taking them to the top of the table after two rounds of action.

Last season, a nail-biting final-day loss to Pontarddulais saw them finish the campaign in the bottom two, but they stayed up after the Glamorgan and Monmouthshire feeder league was declared null and void because more than 40 per cent of the matches fell victim to the weather.

Ynys have clearly looked to make the most of their good fortune, bringing in the likes of Sussex second XI bowler Matt Hobden, Swansea University student Joe Taylor and spinner Tomos Evison from Sully.

Former Glamorgan all-rounder Richard Grant has taken over the captaincy, while out-of-favour county opener Gareth Rees has started both matches and made telling contributions at the top of the order.

The club have also progressed to the third round of the ECB National Club Championship following a thrilling one-run win over Gloucester City Winget last Sunday.

"They say winning breeds success and that has been the case for us so far this season," said Ynys secretary Jeff Thomas.

"We have recruited well, we have been fortunate that Gareth Rees has been available for both games so far, and there seems to be a real depth to the squad this season.

"Last Sunday we had to bring in a couple of players from the second and third XIs for the cup game, but we held on for a fantastic win.

"Hopefully, we can keep this winning run going."

Ynys head to Ffosyrefail tomorrow to take on a Pontarddulais side still looking for their first win. Opener Matthew Carey returns for the Bont.

Mumbles sit just three points behind Ynysygerwn in fourth and host Port Talbot at Marespool.

Former Glamorgan all-rounder Darren Thomas will be hoping he can maintain his outstanding start to the start. Thomas is currently the league's leading run-scorer (191), following up his century against Newport with a whirlwind 76 against Swansea last weekend.

Both sides are without county players, with Graham Wagg and Mark Wallace on duty at the Swalec Stadium. Wallace is replaced by Dan Cherry, who is available for the first time this season. Anthony Thomas has shaken off a knee injury and is expected to play.

Elsewhere, Swansea are at Newport, while Ammanford head east to Sully.

Port Talbot: M. Cox (capt), S. Griffiths, I. Thomas, C. Cooke, D. Cherry, A. Thomas, M. Samuel, L. Jones, S. Phelps, J. Watts, L. Jones.

Mumbles: (from) C. Nelson (capt), R. Evans, A. Donald, A. Griffiths, D. Roberts, A. Norman, D. Thomas, D. Lewis-Williams, D. Holden, R. Aingworth, G. Wagg, W. Owen.

Ammanford: A. Evans (capt), M. Fisher, C. Maloney, H. Jenkins, J. Murphy, A. Salter, G. Slade, M. Roberts, M. Donoghue, T. Maynard, G. Harvey.

Pontarddulais: G. Arrowsmith (capt), M. Carey, O. Morgan, J. Williams, G. Fisher, R. Thomas, L. Carey, R. Croft, J. Denning, D. Lloyd, S. Jones.

HE hasn't been in South Wales long, but Aussie Michael Hogan is already making a big impression with Glamorgan fans.

The 31-year-old, rated one of the leading bowlers in Australian state cricket during his time with Western Australia, has been in fine form with the ball in his first month in the county game.

With 21 wickets to his name in all forms of cricket since his arrival, Hogan has added five more to his tally in this match.

But despite his efforts, it is Essex — thanks to a superb 145 from Ravi Bopara and some lusty late blows from Graham Napier — who have assumed control of this LV= Championship second division match at the Swalec Stadium.

At the close of play of day two, the visitors had reached 343-9, a lead of 112.

Hogan had ripped open the Essex top order as the visitors slumped to 25-3, but Bopara led a resolute fight-back before Napier unleashed some trademark hitting in the closing overs.

With Essex resuming on 10-2, it looked like being a good day for Glamorgan when opener Jaik Mickleburgh became Hogan's first victim of the day and third of the innings as he padded up and was adjudged leg before. Bopara and Mark Pettini started a patient recovery, although both survived chances before lunch. Pettini was not so fortunate after the break with Stewart Walters producing a superb one-handed diving catch at second slip to give Hogan his fourth wicket.

Ben Foakes added 83 with Bopara before the left-arm spin of Dean Cosker broke the stand. Mike Reed got in on the act, dismissing Greg Smith, but in the evening session Glamorgan's attack was put to the sword with Bopara eventually bowled by Graham Wagg after a six-hour stay at the crease.

LLANELLI and Ponty- pridd will renew their heated rivalry when they meet in tomorrow's Principality Premiership play-off final for a third year in a row (7pm).

Remarkably, Sardis Road will host the showpiece clash between the same two sides for a third season in succession.

Honours are even so far, with Llanelli gatecrashing Ponty's party to clinch the title in 2011, before Dale McIntosh's men gained revenge with victory at the House of Pain last term.

Although the two sides have one victory apiece to show from their previous two finals, the question of who to call champions has been a moot point.

Pontypridd finished the current regular season 23 points clear at the top of the table, and they were on their own at the summit in the previous two campaigns.

That led to a sense of sourness when they lost to Llanelli in the 2011 final and, even if the West Walians triumph again tomorrow, they will not regard themselves as champions.

"We look at this game as a play-off. The league champions are Pontypridd," said Llanelli's head coach Kevin George.

"They've been far and away the best team and they deserve their tag of having won the league.

"But this is another part of the competition. As far as we're concerned, Ponty are the league champions."

Oddly, however, Pontypridd disagree.

"The fact of the matter is that we've finished top of the table but, unfortunately, the play-off final decides who wins the league," said head coach McIntosh. "When we lost two years ago, it was Llanelli who were awarded the cup.

"Yes, we were given money for finishing top, but they had the cup. You can't put money in the trophy cabinet.

"All the other finals are water under the bridge. All that's gone. We need to win this tomorrow."

Although Pontypridd are the current title-holders, there is still a burning sense of frustration about the 2011 defeat.

"People ask if I'm getting fed-up of playing Llanelli but you can't get fed-up of these occasions," said McIntosh.

"We've got to relish the occasion but not let it overawe us, as it did two years ago when Wayne O'Connor got a red card.

"We've got to make sure our discipline is totally accurate and make sure we're at our best."

Meanwhile, having already lost three matches to Pontypridd this season, Llanelli will need to up their game if they are to reclaim the Premiership trophy.

"This is bridging the gap between Premiership and regional rugby, so this is as close as it gets for the semi-pro teams to a game against Munster or Ulster," said George.

"There will be a lot of young players but it's big for the stalwarts as well, the likes of Adam Powell and so on.

"If it's not at Parc y Scarlets, Sardis Road is the place where we want to be playing.

"There is no better place, with the big crowd and the atmosphere.

"For semi-pro players, there isn't that much money in the game so it's for days like these you play rugby."

NEATH have moved quickly to appoint forwards coach Neil Edwards as their man at the helm.

Edwards takes over from Patrick Horgan, who stepped down this week after five years as head coach of the Welsh All Blacks.

Edwards took on a coaching role at The Gnoll last season after guiding Ebbw Vale to successive division one titles.

And the 36-year-old former Wales A second row is relishing the challenge of helping Neath becoming one of the powerhouses of Premiership rugby once more.

"We have a big task in front of us, but I'm looking forward to rolling my sleeves up and getting into it," he said.

"We need to get some stability into the side this season. We've signed a lot of the current group for next season already and we'll also be strengthening.

"We know it's essential to have a good build up.

"We've a 12-week pre-season to prepare for a successful Neath campaign for 2013-14."

Edwards also paid tribute to Horgan, who he has played and coached alongside during his career.

"I've known Pat for a long time and I was disappointed to see him go," Edwards added. "I wish him all the best for the future."

Hailing Edwards's appointment, Neath chairman Phil Davies said: "We're delighted that Neil has accepted the position of head coach.

"He has a fantastic record both as a player and head coach already and we're certain he will do an excellent job for the club.

"Neil is now assembling his back-room staff and building a squad for the new season.

"There will be a number of new faces involved and all concerned are under no illusion of what's required to put our proud and mighty club back on the summit of Welsh Premiership rugby."

MOTORISTS are flocking to a Carmarthen garage after it slashed its prices in a bid to take on the big boys.

Barry Thomas said news of his low prices, which have been up to 4p a litre cheaper than the supermarkets, had spread far and wide on Facebook and Twitter.

The response, he said, had been massive, with fuel sales more than trebling at his Gwalia Garage in Peniel.

"At one point we were 4p cheaper than Tesco," he said.

"They have brought their prices down, but I think we are still cheaper.

"According to my rep the cheapest fuel in the UK is in an Asda in Cardiff and we were a penny below them.

"We have been cheaper than the supermarkets for the past six weeks, possibly seven.

"People have been coming in and telling us they heard about it on Facebook and Twitter.

"It has been amazing."

Mr Thomas said that despite slashing his prices, he is still able to make a profit.

"It is a smaller margin," he added.

"The price drop has dramatically improved fuel sales, so I am better off.

"It has comfortably trebled the amount of fuel sold.

"The volume of people through the doors has increased no end.

"Even our suppliers are telling us they can see a difference.

"Milk sales, bread sales, everything is up. Even the workshop is busier.

"New faces are pulling in and didn't realise the services we offer." Mr Thomas said he was driven to lower his prices to compete — but says that to do so he needed to go one better.

"I wanted to be competitive with the supermarkets and also we've come to the stage where we are financially stronger so we could bring profits down on the fuel," he said.

"Customers are asking us how can we be so cheap, I'm being honest and saying 'I'm cutting my margin'.

"Fuel is almost a loss leader, it brings people through the door.

"It is also a way of giving something back to the people who have supported us through the years.

"Fuel prices vary all over the country.

"We get so many people from Mid Wales stopping with us on the way to work to fill up as it is so much more expensive where they are from."

AN appeal against a community councillor's suspension has been thrown out.

John Cooper, a member for the Oystermouth ward on Mumbles Community Council, had appealed against the decision made by a Swansea Council committee.

He had been suspended for 18 weeks following allegations he had breached the community council's code of conduct.

An appeal tribunal convened by the president of the Adjudication Panel for Wales considered the appeal against the decision made by Swansea Council's community and town councils standards sub-committee.

The allegations were that Mr Cooper had breached Mumbles Community Council's code of conduct by making misleading statements about his personal assets to an employment tribunal. A notice of decision from the Adjudication Panel for Wales said: "The appeal tribunal found by unanimous decision that Mr Cooper failed to comply with the Mumbles Community Council code of conduct.

"Paragraph 6(1)(a) of the code of conduct states: 'You must not conduct yourself in such a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute'."

At the hearing Mr Cooper said he had not believed the code applied to him in a personal capacity, only in his duties as a councillor.

He also said he had not received the code from the council at that time.

He told the appeal hearing: "I can't be hung for something I was not aware of."

The adjudication panel report concluded: "The appeal tribunal found that Mr Cooper made statements to an employment tribunal on August 2, 2010, that were misleading in that he failed to disclose his assets when the employment tribunal was considering his ability to pay costs."

This was in reference to a flat Mr Cooper was renting out and a payout he had received. However, he said he had not believed the flat to be an asset because its mortgage was more than the property's worth and the rent was being paid straight to the building society. He said his payout from a negligence hearing was unexpected and had preceded the employment tribunal.

This was reported by the Evening Post in January 2011. The appeal tribunal also found that Mr Cooper had spoken to a reporter before the article was in the paper and had "given the Ombudsman incorrect information as to that fact".

The panel, which was chaired by Emma Boothroyd, concluded: it "endorsed the decision of the standards committee that Mr Cooper should be suspended from being a member for ... 18 weeks."

P W D L Ab Pts Ynysygerwn 2 2 0 0 0 41 Cardiff 2 2 0 0 0 40 Sully 2 2 0 0 0 39 Mumbles 2 0 2 0 0 38 Bridgend 2 0 1 1 0 23 Ammanford 2 1 0 1 0 22 Newport 2 0 1 1 0 15 Pontarddulais 2 0 1 1 0 14 Swansea 2 0 1 1 0 12 Port Talbot 2 0 0 2 0 12

P W D L Ab Pts Pontarddulais 2 2 0 0 0 36 Cardiff 2 1 0 0 1 27 Mumbles 2 1 0 0 1 27 Ynysygerwn 2 1 0 0 1 27 Bridgend 2 1 0 1 0 25 Port Talbot 2 1 0 1 0 23 Swansea 2 0 0 1 1 14 Newport 2 0 0 1 1 13 Ammanford 2 0 0 1 1 12 Sully 2 0 0 2 0 3

1st XI Division One

P W D L Ab Pts Cowbridge 2 1 1 0 0 45 Neath 2 1 1 0 0 37 Tata Steel 2 1 1 0 0 34 Carmarthen Wdrs 2 1 1 0 0 33 Dafen 2 1 0 1 0 31 Gowerton 2 0 2 0 0 28 Ynystawe 2 0 2 0 0 17 Clydach 2 0 1 1 0 16 Llangennech 2 0 1 1 0 16 Maesteg Celtic 2 0 0 2 0 12

Briton Ferry Steel 2 2 0 0 0 54 Llandysul 2 2 0 0 0 51 Aberdare 2 1 1 0 0 38 Skewen 2 1 1 0 0 37 Bronwydd 2 1 0 1 0 30 Morriston 2 0 1 1 0 21 Pontardawe 2 0 1 1 0 19 Swansea CS 2 0 2 0 0 16 Gorseinon 2 0 0 2 0 13 Llanelli 2 0 0 2 0 10

Maesteg 2 1 1 0 0 40 Porthcawl 2 1 1 0 0 39 Briton Ferry Town 2 1 1 0 0 38 Drefach 2 1 1 0 0 32 Pontyberem 2 1 0 0 1 31 Margam 2 0 0 2 0 14 Merthyr Tydfil 2 0 1 0 1 14 Landore 2 0 1 1 0 13 Cimla 2 0 0 1 1 11 Dyffryn 2 0 0 1 1 10

Pwll 2 2 0 0 0 54 Felinfoel 2 2 0 0 0 50 Baglan 2 1 0 0 1 30 Llantwit Major 2 0 1 1 0 27 Neath 3rds 2 0 1 1 0 17 Llandarcy 2 0 1 1 0 15 Kidwelly 2 0 0 2 0 13 Llandeilo 2 0 1 0 1 8

Carmarthen Wdrs 2 2 0 0 0 53 Dafen 2 2 0 0 0 53 Neath 2 2 0 0 0 53 Tata Steel 2 2 0 0 0 53 Ynystawe 2 1 0 1 0 33 Maesteg Celtic 2 0 0 2 0 12 Llangennech 2 0 0 1 1 11 Clydach 2 0 0 1 1 8 Cowbridge 2 0 0 2 0 8 Gowerton 2 0 0 2 0 7

Briton Ferry Steel 2 1 0 0 1 32 Skewen 2 1 0 0 1 31 Swansea CS 2 1 0 0 1 31 Llanelli 2 1 0 0 1 30 Llandysul 2 1 0 0 1 28 Bronwydd 2 0 0 1 1 11 Gorseinon 2 0 0 1 1 10 Pontardawe 2 0 0 1 1 9 Aberdare 2 0 0 1 1 6 Morriston 2 0 0 1 1 4

Merthyr Tydfil 2 1 0 0 1 32 Porthcawl 2 1 0 0 1 32 Dyffryn 2 1 0 0 1 30 Margam 2 1 0 0 1 28 Drefach 2 0 1 1 0 14 Landore 2 0 1 0 1 14 Maesteg 2 0 0 1 1 10 Pontyberem 2 0 0 0 2 8 Cimla 2 0 0 1 1 7 Briton Ferry Town 2 0 0 1 1 6

Felinfoel 2 2 0 0 0 53 Kidwelly 2 2 0 0 0 50 Llandeilo 2 1 1 0 0 32 Neath 4ths 2 1 0 0 1 30 Baglan 2 0 1 1 0 22 Llandarcy 2 0 0 1 1 8 Llantwit Major 2 0 0 2 0 8 Pwll 2 0 0 2 0 5

Tomorrow

SOCCER

CORBETT SPORTS WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL: Port Talbot v Bala Town (GenQuip Stadium, 3pm)

RUGBY

PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF GRAND FINAL: Pontypridd v Llanelli (Sardis Road, 7pm)

SWALEC LEAGUE Div. 3 play-off: Pontyclun v Trebanos (Pyle RFC, 2.30pm)

CRICKET

SOUTH WALES PREMIER LEAGUE: Cardiff v Bridgend Town, Mumbles v Port Talbot Town, Newport v Swansea, Pontarddulais v Ynysygerwn, Sully Centurions v Ammanford.

THOMAS CARROLL SWCA: Div. 1 — Carmarthen Wdrs v Tata Steel, Llangennech v Cowbridge, Maesteg Celtic v Gowerton, Neath v Dafen, Ynystawe v Clydach, Aberdare v Morriston.

Div. 2 — Briton Ferry Steel v Swansea Civil Service, Bronwydd v Pontardawe, Gorseinon v Llanelli, Llandysul v Skewen.

Div. 3 — Cimla v Maesteg, Merthyr Tydfil v Drefach, Landore v Dyffryn, Margam v Pontyberem, Porthcawl v Briton Ferry Town.

Div. 4 — Felinfoel v Baglan, Kidwelly v Llandarcy, Llantwit Major Cavaliers v Neath 3rds, Llandeilo v Pwll.

ALPHA FASTENERS WWCA: Div. 1 — Cimla v Pontarddulais, Dafen v Sketty Church, Mumbles v Tata Steel, Port Talbot Town v Llangennech, Ynysygerwn v Skewen.

Div. 2 — Swansea Civil Service v Cowbridge, Morriston v Gowerton, Penllergaer v Swansea, Pontardawe v Ynystawe, Ammanford v Ystradgynlais.

A MASKED robber who once ran for Wales wrestled with the owner of a Chinese takeaway as she tried to hold on to her shop's till.

Kwami Walker-Jones had been living on the streets in the months leading up to the robbery at Dragon House takeaway in Neath and had not eaten for 24 hours when he committed the robbery.

He went into the shop wearing a white mask and white contact lenses to conceal his face, Swansea Crown Court heard.

The owner, Da Ming Lee, had heard him come into the shop, and as she went to investigate, saw him reach towards the counter and try to open the drawer.

She challenged him and as she pulled at his face, she noticed his face was covered.

"At that point she realised the situation was more serious than she had initially thought," said prosecutor Janet Gedrych.

She continued to struggle with Walker-Jones, 25, of Tal-Y-Wern Road, Margam.

He could not lift it because of its weight and because the owner was pushing down to try to hold onto her property.

Walker-Jones, who admitted attempted robbery, then pulled the cable out and tried to lift the till.

The woman's husband then came from upstairs and Walker- Jones let go, causing the till to fall to the floor.

Walker-Jones was caught after a former school friend, who works in a local fancy dress shop, remembered selling him the mask and contact lenses.

He had pleaded guilty to attempted robbery on a basis of the facts.

Walker-Jones also admitted theft after he took a gold chain worth £500 from the Ramsdens store in Neath. He saw the chain had been left unattended and took it, the court heard.

Ian Ibrahim, for Walker-Jones, said his client had been brought up in an orphanage and had never met either of his parents.

He said he had been a great athlete, but had only been able to afford one pair of spiked running shoes, and despite having run for Wales, could not continue to afford to compete.

"He consumed alcohol, knew the premises and he went in there to try and take the drawer," said Mr Ibrahim, who said his client was not trying to get away from his actions, but wanted the court to understand his situation.

Judge Paul Thomas said: "The court always seeks to protect those who run small businesses because they're vulnerable.

"At 25, you must take responsibility for your actions," he said, before jailing Walker-Jones for 15 months.