|
Aberavon v Cardiff :
Editor's Viewpoint
|
Time flies, and how they have changed
Hard to believe that it’s almost exactly six years ago that Cardiff came
here to Aberavon for a Cup Tie. A bitterly cold, wind-swept evening, with
the kick-off at the surreal time of 5:30pm to accommodate the
all-important television schedules, saw the visitors progress to the next
round, but not without a tough old battle against a determined Aberavon
effort. This was “pre-regionalisation”, and the whole event had something
of a David-versus-Goliath feel to it, with Division One high-flyers
Aberavon standing toe to toe with the full-time professionals of one of
the truly big club sides in not just Welsh, but World Rugby. The build up
started about a week before, with the rival coaches Chris O’Callaghan and
Rudy Joubert enjoying a publicity-generating war of words via the local
media.
The Wizards, in the event, lived up to the role of gallant losers, with
much being made in the media of Liam Roberts’ try just before half-time,
which the television replay showed should have been disallowed. There was
no TMO back then, however, and with the benefit of the doubt the score
stood. More important, however, was that the Aberavon performance, even in
defeat, served as an important morale-booster in the Wizards’ drive for
another Division One title (but not, alas, promotion).
How times have changed. During a weekend off from the thrills and (rather
more abundant) spills of the Six Nations Championship we today have more
of a David-versus-David encounter between two clubs from the top half of
the Principality Premiership – not the only such tie to be taking place
today, but certainly one that illustrates how the face of the domestic
game has changed during those six years.
If league standings are any guide, then Cardiff should start as
favourites, as they sit in second place with the Wizards three places
lower down (albeit having played three fewer matches). The Blue and Blacks
also have the momentum of a victory during last weekend’s round of league
fixtures, while the Wizards were going down to defeat at Sardis Road on
that same Friday evening (why do evening matches always seem to go so
horribly wrong for us?). The most recent encounter between the two clubs,
however, took place just six weeks ago here at the Talbot Athletic Ground,
and saw the Wizards shake off the inhibitions of a hitherto indifferent
patch of form to put together their best performance of the season to
date, defending admirably during a first half dominated by the visitors,
and gaining the upper hand to notch a handsome victory after the interval.
None of which matters one jot, of course, because this is the Cup. The
history of the competition is littered with upsets, which is why knock-out
tournaments, in any sport, are so universally popular.
We’ve had our share of upsets at Aberavon, not least some fifteen seasons
ago when a sortie into the Gwent valleys to visit Fleur de Lys provided us
with our very own horror story. In all the time that has passed since then
I don’t think anyone has actually thanked Cardiff RFC for the part they
played in softening the blow that weekend, so I now do so, although I
would think our guests will be less than delighted at being reminded of
the event. You see, as I braced myself to face the Sunday morning
headlines proclaiming our acute embarrassment to the world, I discovered
that on the very same afternoon the Blue and Blacks had grabbed all the
press attention by going down at home to St Peters, thus relegating
reports of the Wizards’ ignominious exit from the competition to a couple
of obscure, bottom-of-the-page paragraphs. Grasping at straws for some
consolation we may have been, but at least there was a slender straw there
to be grasped.
Today, as they say in all the best melodramas, is another day. The luck of
the draw has favoured Aberavon with one of the best home ties. Luck on the
field, however, may take a completely different form, along with no small
amount of skill. Enjoy the game.
Paul Williams
|
