THE 120th match between old rivals Llandovery College and Christ College Brecon takes place at Llandovery’s home ground, Tredegar Close, this Saturday, KO 2 30 pm.

The first game was played as long ago as 1879 and even if Llandovery are well in the lead with 81 victories to 28 – with ten drawn games – the game will surely be as keenly contested as ever.

“Fierce, frantic, wonderful” are the words used by former Times rugby writer Vivian Jenkins, who played in the Llandovery College side of 1928, and although the Carmarthenshire school has had much the better of recent games, an upset is always possible in an invariably tense atmosphere.

Neither side has overly impressed in early games but through a line with Monmouth School, Llandovery look to have a big edge on paper.

The Lilywhites beat Monmouth School 29-12 whereas the Breconians went down 29-0 at the hands of the side coached by former Wales and British Lions wing John Bevan.

Llandovery have two big powerful forwards in Wales U18 lock Joe Davey – a Carwyn James sports scholar – and South African-born No 8 Jaen Botes, and a clever pair of half-backs in Dan Newlands and North Walian import Jack Roberts.

Last Saturday, centres George North and James Russell, hooker Tom Rosca and prop Rhodri Jones were in good form in Llandovery’s 18-10 win over Whitchurch HS.

North and Botes got the tries to inflict the season’s first defeat on the Cardiff Comprehensive.

Roberts shone in the 32-21 defeat at the hands of Crawshay’s Welsh U19s, scoring a fine solo try as well as running and kicking well throughout and will be the key man on Saturday.

Christ College’s best performance was ironically in defeat against New Zealand visitors Christ’s College, from Christchurch .

The powerful visitors, coached by Old Breconian and former British Lion Rob Ackerman, had to fight hard before running out 31-10 winners.

A try from wing David Rich plus a conversion and penalty from fly-half Max Proctor were the least that the effort of the Brecon boys’ efforts deserved.

They will still have to change up another gear to meet the challenge of their old adversaries 20 miles down the A40.

**The Llandovery XV that won the 100th match 19-0 back on October 22, 1988 will be at Saturday’s game.

They have been brought together by their old coach Robin Barlow and will attend a special re-union dinner at the College on Saturday evening when the guest speaker will be ex-Wales and Lions captain Phil Bennett.

The 1988 captain and former Bridgend back-row Owain Lloyd will be joined amongst others by other former first-class players in Scarlets and Wales A centre Ian Jones and Bridgend fly-half Matthew Lewis.