2006-2007 Season

After a couple of tough pre-season friendlies with Doncaster and London Welsh, September saw the Wizards get off to a flying start despite having to open their campaign with two difficult away fixtures. A rain-soaked Rodney Parade, where we hadn’t won in over two decades, saw a moment of magic from Liam Gadd and a dramatic late penalty from Jamie Davies snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. A week later we visited Church Bank, never the easiest of venues at which to play, where a fine display of fifteen-man rugby allied to a solid defence earned a second successive victory on the road.

Alas it all went horribly wrong in our first home game when Pontypridd came along and severely dented any title ambitions we may have had. The show was put back on the road a week later with a home win over Cardiff, and the month was ushered out when what looked for all the world like being a win here for Maesteg was reversed as Marc Breeze sent Robbie Morgan over in the corner for a crucial winning try in the dying moments. Shortly after the final whistle it was announced that Kevin Hopkins was leaving Aberavon to take up his new role as the Ospreys’ Director of Rugby.

October began with a trip to Ebbw Vale, and this time it was the Wizards who felt heartbreak when home fly-half Sam Mills sent over an injury-time penalty to deny us the spoils at the end of a scrappy, error-strewn game. The biggest error at Stradey Park a week later came from the referee, who waved play on after a blatant knock-on. The dropped-goal moments later denied the Wizards a win they richly deserved. To be fair Mr Owens, the official in question, having seen the match video, did apologise and admit his mistake some time later, but it was nonetheless three valuable league points gone astray. A narrow home win over Bridgend and a draw at Glamorgan Wanderers, in which James Davies suffered that sickening shoulder injury, brought the month to a close.

Only one match took place during November, thanks to Wales’ Autumn Internationals and a predictably waterlogged Cross Keys pitch in monsoon conditions. Still, a convincing Friday-night defeat of Swansea was enough to keep the momentum going.

December came in with a hard-fought win over Bedwas, followed by a disastrous trip to Pontypridd for which some appalling traffic problems between here and Sardis Road had a lot to answer. A week later at the Arms Park the home side were awarded a try directly from the kick-off from a pass that was so far forward it could have come from an American quarterback, but it left the Wizards chasing a game that they were just unable to turn their way. 2006 drew to a close with more disappointment as Neath grabbed a late and controversial winner on Boxing Day, and this was followed a few days later by the season’s second departure from our coaching staff as Mark Jones moved on.

2007 got off to a belated start in mid-January when the Wizards, under new coaches Garin Jenkins and Jeff Pick, produced a spectacular display of running rugby that completely blew away league leaders Ebbw Vale. A somewhat disappointing home draw with Llanelli was followed by cup victory at Cwmllynfell.

February began with a rare away win over Bridgend, and with further progress in the cup earned in convincing fashion at Cross Keys, one could have been forgiven for thinking the Aberavon show was well and truly back on the road. Alas, it was not to be – defeat in the rearranged league match at Cross Keys was followed by a dismal display at home to Glamorgan Wanderers at the beginning of March, and as the month unfolded a disappointing defeat at Swansea was followed by our exit from the cup at the hands of Bridgend. A narrow home win over Cross Keys brought the month to a close, and as April arrived it seems that everyone was looking to the end of the season as Bedwas at the Bridge Field and a home match with Newport both saw the Wizards fall to defeat, before another late rally brought victory at Maesteg in a remarkable match. Amidst all of this the news broke that the Wizards will be coached next season by Simon King and Nicky Lloyd, who join us from Pontypridd and Cross Keys respectively.

Principality Building Society Premiership Division

Club Awards

• Darren Ryan (Player of the Year)
• Chris Morgans (Most Promising Player of the Year)
• Mike Harris (Clubman of the Year)
• Darren Ryan (Merlin Man of the Match)
• Darryl Thomas (Players' Player of the Year)
• James Jones (Young Player of the Year/Sean Conneely Memorial Award)