EVERYBODY at Bedwas is happy with their superb start to life in Welsh Division One. But no-one is happier than impressive back row forward Hywel Davies.

Davies has been with the club for 13 years, moving up through the ranks from the youth team, and has contributed more than most to the club's success.

And he believes it can continue today with a home victory over Tondu which would leapfrog last season's Division Two champions over their rivals to the top of Division One.

Asked if he had thought as a 14-year-old that one day little Bedwas might be on the fringe of Welsh rugby's elite, qualified surveyor Davies said: "Good God no. When I started playing, Bedwas weren't in the Heineken League. They were way down the ranks. But it's been good fun to see them come all the way through.

"It's been step by step every year. You don't expect to do so well when you get say in Division Three, then Two, then One. But before you know it, after the first six to eight weeks, you think 'we've got a stab at this' and that's what we're feeling like at the moment.

"We never expected to be in second spot, but now we're there I fancy we can beat Tondu. "It's on our own patch, we haven't lost there in the league for a couple of seasons and I can't see anyone in the league who is going to cause us major concerns.

"As long as we go out with the same attitude every week we can keep on doing well."

The Caerphilly-born 27-year-old added: "It's brilliant what has been achieved. There are a lot of players who have come from other clubs and though their heart is now in Bedwas, it's not the same feeling for them as it is for me."

Asked the secret of Bedwas' success, Davies said: "I think it has got a lot to do with the coaches - they encourage a good team spirit.

"We always play for each other and we've got one thing in mind, and that's winning us games.

"Over the last two seasons in Divisions Two and Three we were very forward orientated, but we made some very good signings this year in the centre and on the wings and at the moment we seem quite complete.

"We can play a forward orientated game or we can spin it out and that's a big plus."

Darren Sweet has recovered from a minor knock to take his place in the Bedwas squad.

Bedwas: P Phillips, D Young, J Welch, A Harrison, M Pizey, G Samuels, W Bray, R Bilton, L Tomlins, M Wilson, R Edwards, L Griffiths, H Davies, M Lewis, D Mattravers. Replacements: J Tilley, T Carless, D Sweet, A Evans, D Hawthorne, G Downs, M Evans. Kick-off 2.30pm.

* In the picture: Matthew Pizey, right, and Bedwas are riding high at the top of Division One.