RECORDING back-to-back wins for the first time this season will serve as extra motivation for Cross Keys in their Colwyn Bay tussle with RGC 1404 today (kick-off 5.15pm).

Keys ended a dismal run of nine Principality Premiership fixtures without a victory with a hard-fought 26-18 defeat of Llandovery on a muddy Pandy Park pitch last Saturday.

Dragons ace Jacob Botica delivered a man-of-the-match performance in Keys colours, kicking two conversions and four penalties for a personal tally of 16 points.

Young Dragons scrum-half Dan Babos also played his part with a kick and chase try from distance that former Pontypool and Wales prop Graham Price would have been proud of.

Keys' win took them back to the top of the chasing pack which is still some way behind ninth-placed Llandovery.

In the fight to avoid relegation to the Championship, Keys, Swansea, Bedwas, Llanelli, Bridgend and Bargoed are only separated by seven points.

Fly-half Jason Tovey doesn't return at 10 for Keys in Colwyn Bay, instead Will Kelly takes over from Botica in the fly-half jersey.

As for RGC, they lie seventh, two points clear of Llandovery, following a 15-7 reverse against Aberavon last weekend.

It has been a mixed season so far for the men from the north, with seven wins countered by six defeats.

This evening’s encounter at Stadiwm Zip World is also taking place in front of the S4C television cameras.

Cross Keys: L Andrews; R Budina, S Majkic, D Fidler, W Cunliffe; W Kelly, O Leonard; G Carpenter, E Shipp, S Evans, D Welch (capt), S Andrews, T Lampard, J Thomas, I Jones. Reps: R Jenkins, R Cornock, S Hoskins, I Duffy, J Carlin, C Johnsey, I Burgwin, D Hitchings.