After an entertaining opening two weeks, the Novira Cymru Leagues enters its third gameweek with plenty more action on the horizon. Here are the key games to watch.
Novira Cymru Premier – Caernarfon Town vs Colwyn Bay (Saturday, 5:15pm)
A bumper Novira Cymru Premier crowd is expected at Caernarfon Town’s renovated Oval on Saturday evening as the Cofis host their fierce rivals Colwyn Bay.
Caernarfon began their campaign in style with a 2-1 victory away to Connah’s Quay Nomads, but their first league match back at The Oval, which saw over 1,300 fans in attendance, ended in a 2-1 defeat to Penybont last weekend despite Zack Clarke putting the Cofis ahead inside just five minutes.
Colwyn Bay have experienced a similar theme in the early stages of the season so far. The Seagulls were victorious on the opening day after beating Trefelin 2-0 on home soil, but Bay squandered a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with newly-promoted Ammanford last weekend following a defensive error and the concession of a penalty. New signing Adam Davies, who joined Bay from Caernarfon earlier this summer, already has two league goals for his new club and he could have a big say on Saturday.
Both sides met on six occasions across the 2025/26 season. Caernarfon won 3-0 in August’s Nathaniel MG Cup first round tie, while Bay earned narrow 1-0 and 2-1 victories in Phase One of the Novira Cymru Premier. However, the Cofis got revenge with a 4-1 triumph in the Welsh Cup – a trophy they eventually went to lift – before 3-0 and 2-0 wins in Phase Town.
Caernarfon’s 2-0 win over Bay last April attracted 2,357 fans, which made it the fifth-highest attendance in Welsh top-flight history. It was also the third time across last season’s six meetings that drew four-figure crowds.
Caernarfon Town vs Colwyn Bay
Novira Cymru Premier – Haverfordwest County vs Penybont (Friday, 7:45pm)
Haverfordwest County and Penybont meet for the first time since last season’s European Play-Off Final at the Dynamite Bridge Meadow on Friday, with the two sides enduring contrasting starts to the new campaign so far.
Haverfordwest manager Tony Pennock said his side “never really looked like scoring” in their shock 1-0 loss at home to newly-promoted Airbus UK Broughton on the opening day. The Bluebirds showed signs of improvements last Friday despite their 2-0 loss to champions The New Saints, but remain one of only two teams, along with Trefelin, yet to score a single league goal. Haverfordwest have not gone three consecutive Novira Cymru Premier games without scoring in almost five years.
Penybont have bounced back from their European disappointments to claim an impressive four points from two very tricky fixtures so far. Rhys Griffiths’ side played out a goalless draw with The New Saints in an even contest on the opening weekend before Tom Mehew’s stunner and Ryan Hill’s penalty saw Bont come from behind to win 2-1 away to Caernarfon Town last time out.
Penybont earned 1-0 and 2-1 victories over Haverfordwest in Phase One before goals from Chris Venables and Mael Davies secured the club’s 2-0 win in the European Play-Off final in May.
Haverfordwest County vs Penybont
Novira Cymru North – Newtown vs Guilsfield (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Newtown and Guilsfield are hoping to build on their unbeaten starts to the Novira Cymru North season when both sides meet in a local mid-Wales derby at Latham Park on Saturday.
Newtown are one of four clubs, along with Porthmadog, Bala Town and Brickfield Rangers, to win their opening two league matches. The Robins remain the only team in the division yet to concede a goal after emphatic wins over Gresford Athletic (3-0) and Penrhyncoch (5-0) so far. Star forward Jamie Hyne has already found his form in front goal with braces in both of those victories.
Guilsfield have been involved on the right side of late drama in their first two matches as Alistair Williams’ late header salvaged a 1-1 draw away to Rhyl 1879 on the opening weekend before stoppage-time goals from Adam Knott and Callum Bromley saw the Guils stage a stunning comeback to triumph 3-2 against Mold Alexandra last Saturday. Gavin Allen’s side will be hoping for some improvement away from home though, having won just once on the road in the league since last September.
Guilsfield were narrow 2-1 victors in November’s first league meeting between the two sides last season, but Newtown eventually got their revenge in February with a 2-0 home win.
Novira Cymru South – Pure Swansea vs Llanelli Town (Saturday, 2:30pm)
Early Novira Cymru South leaders Pure Swansea will be aiming for a third straight victory when they host Llanelli Town at the Dragonbet Stadium on Saturday.
Pure Swansea are preparing to host their first home fixture since their promotion to the second tier and they have stolen headlines after securing maximum points from their first two matches in convincing fashion. Jack Midwinter’s side have claimed 3-0 wins against Llantwit Major and Baglan Dragons so far, with star striker Casey Coughlin showcasing his quality with four goals already, including a hat-trick against the Dragons last Sunday. The Swans also remain the only team in the Novira Cymru South yet to concede a single goal.
It has been a summer full of change for Llanelli following their relegation from the Novira Cymru Premier. Terry Boyle’s new-look squad suffered a heavy 4-1 loss to Newport City on the opening day, but there were signs of improvement from the Reds in their 1-1 draw against Trethomas Bluebirds last weekend.
This will be the first meeting between both clubs since the 2022/23 Novira Cymru South, where Llanelli earned a pair of 2-0 wins.
