Rob Nash: Keys cannot afford another slip in play off bid (From South Wales Argus)

Rob Nash: Keys cannot afford another slip in play off bid

8:00am Friday 8th March 2013 in Latest Rugby By Iwan Davies

LLANDOVERY v CROSS KEYS (Tonight, KO 7.15)

CROSS Keys captain Rob Nash believes his side can still make the Premiership play offs but admitted defeat to Llandovery this evening would effectively end their hopes.

The Pandy Park outfit’s away clash with the Drovers is one of those classic clichéd must-win games for both sides who are chasing a top three finish.

Keys are third in the table, while Llandovery are in fifth spot, the Gwent side ten points ahead of them but having played two more games with five left to go for them. Nash’s team went down to a controversial 24-21 defeat away to Cardiff on Saturday when a lineout was allowed to take place after the 80 minutes were seemingly up.

Home wing Jamie Davies, an ex-Keys player, scored from the ensuing set piece to steal the game.

But other results went Keys’ way to almost cancel out that setback at Cardiff Arms Park.

“It was all doom and gloom after last weekend’s game,” Nash admitted.

“But we had a good training session on Tuesday and after having looked at the table, we are still very much in the mix.

“I have a good feeling we could scrape into the play offs by the skin of our teeth.

“There’s no reason why we still can’t do it, although we probably need to win all our remaining games now, and we are certainly going for it.

“Tonight’s match is a massive one for both clubs and whoever loses will probably be out of the race.”

Keys will be without scrum half Rhys Dyer who is banned for six weeks after he was sent off in the 19-12 Swalec Cup defeat to Neath last month.

“It is a blow but Ryan James was outstanding when he came on against Cardiff last week and he has great game awareness,” Nash said.

Keys have a good record at Church Bank where they have won in their last two league encounters.

And they will also be looking to complete the double this season after beating Llandovery 22-15 at Pandy Park in November.