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Cardiff and Swansea refused to sign 10 year loyalty contracts with the WRU during the
run up to the start of the season. With the two rebel clubs arranging to play a season of
friendlies against English Premier Division clubs, Newport (who finished bottom of the
Premier Division in 1997-98) and Aberavon (Division One runners-up) were both
"promoted" to play in the Premier Division just 4 days before the first match
was due to be played. With Aberavon spending the summer preparing a semi-professional
squad ready for a season of Division One rugby, it came as a shock to the club when they
found themselves playing against the full-time professional clubs in the Premier Division.
Needless to say, the club struggled for most of the season winning just two of their
twenty league games - Bridgend were beaten 16 - 6 in December while Newport went down 40 -
38 in May. Although there were at least another four matches the Wizards should have won,
it was not to be their year with them finishing at the bottom of the Premier Division, and
being relegated to Division One. Bonus points were scrapped after this season.
In other competitions, Aberavon beat Spain 18 - 6 away to avoid bottom spot in Pool B
of the European Shield. On October 7th, 1998, Aberavon lost 97 - 13 away to Montferrand
in the European Shield - this is the clubs heaviest defeat. In the WRU Challenge Trophy, the Wizards played superbly when they
finished just one spot of the finals with wins over Georgia (42 - 0) and Natal
Wilderbeests (20 - 14). Finally, in the Swalec Cup, Aberavon played rebel club Cardiff at
the Talbot Athletic Ground in the 6th Round. The Wizards were beating the star studded
Cardiff side 9 - 8 going into the final quarter of the match. Although Cardiff went back
into the lead later on, the score was 13 - 12 to Cardiff deep into the game. Deep into
injury time, Aberavon were on the attack but a cruel interception resulted in Gareth
Thomas going over for a try that gave Cardiff a flattering 20 - 12 win.
Welsh National League Premier Division
| Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
PF |
PA |
Tries |
Bonus Pts |
Points |
| 1 |
Llanelli |
20 |
15 |
1 |
4 |
768 |
341 |
104 |
18 |
64 |
| 2 |
Pontypridd |
20 |
12 |
0 |
8 |
646 |
468 |
80 |
10 |
46 |
| 3 |
Neath |
20 |
12 |
0 |
8 |
568 |
491 |
68 |
8 |
44 |
| 4 |
Ebbw Vale |
20 |
12 |
1 |
7 |
541 |
468 |
58 |
7 |
44 |
| 5 |
Caerphilly |
20 |
10 |
2 |
8 |
550 |
562 |
63 |
5 |
37 |
| 6 |
Bridgend |
20 |
9 |
2 |
9 |
522 |
607 |
61 |
5 |
34 |
| 7 |
Newport |
20 |
5 |
0 |
15 |
499 |
639 |
63 |
8 |
23 |
| 8 |
Aberavon |
20 |
2 |
0 |
18 |
394 |
929 |
51 |
4 |
10 |
European Shield Pool B
| Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
PF |
PA |
Points |
| 1 |
Montferrand |
6 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
303 |
86 |
10 |
| 2 |
Bourgoin |
6 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
222 |
86 |
10 |
| 3 |
Dax |
6 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
163 |
122 |
10 |
| 4 |
Castres |
6 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
229 |
101 |
6 |
| 5 |
Roma |
6 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
117 |
213 |
4 |
| 6 |
Aberavon |
6 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
86 |
287 |
2 |
| 7 |
Spain |
6 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
75 |
288 |
0 |
WRU Challenge Trophy Pool A
| Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
PF |
PA |
Tries |
BP |
Points |
| 1 |
Pontypridd |
4 * |
3 |
0 |
0 |
153 |
31 |
21 |
3 |
13 * |
| 2 |
Edinburgh Reivers |
4 * |
3 |
0 |
0 |
121 |
30 |
18 |
3 |
13 * |
| 3 |
Aberavon |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
76 |
63 |
11 |
2 |
8 |
| 4 |
Caerphilly |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
79 |
125 |
12 |
2 |
8 |
| 5 |
Natal Wilderbeests |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
101 |
102 |
16 |
1 |
7 |
| 6 |
Canada |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
41 |
74 |
5 |
0 |
6 |
| 7 |
Neath |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
104 |
82 |
14 |
2 |
5 |
| 8 |
Georgia |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
38 |
206 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
* The Pontypridd v Edinburgh Reivers game was abandoned so both
teams were given 1 point.
Club Awards
- Justin Hughes (Player of the Year)
- Colin Noon (Most Promising Player of the Year)
- Richard Lewis (Clubman of the Year)
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