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Aberavon v Cardiff MatchPack : Preview
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Aberavon |
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Cardiff |
Konica Minolta Cup, Round Five, Talbot Athletic Ground, Saturday
February 16th 2008
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Aberavon welcome Cardiff to the Talbot Athletic Ground
this coming Saturday in the Konica Minolta Cup, kick off
2:30pm.
The Wizards have played the Blue & Blacks six times in the
Cup competition with the capital city side leading the
series by four wins to two. The sides first met in the
1973-74 season when Aberavon beat Cardiff 9 - 4 at Bridgend
in the semi-finals of the Schweppes Cup. The Wizards went on
to lose to Llanelli in the final that season. Two |
| seasons later Aberavon beat Cardiff 16 - 12
at the Arms Park and went on to reach the quarter-finals of
the Schweppes Cup. The following season Cardiff got their
first victory over Aberavon in the Cup with a 15 - 6 win in
the semi-finals of the Schweppes Cup in Swansea. There was
then a gap of 18 years before both sides met in the Cup again
when, in 1994-95, Aberavon lost 3 - 72 to Cardiff at the Arms
Park in the quarter-finals of the Swalec Cup. The sides met
four years later with the Blue & Blacks first Cup visit to the
Talbot Athletic Ground. In the sixth round of the Swalec Cup
Cardiff, a rebel side that season, defeated Aberavon 20 - 12
in a hard fought game. |
The sides last met in the cup in 2001-02 when
Cardiff won 24 - 16 in the Principality Cup at the Talbot Athletic
Ground. Division One side Aberavon found themselves 7 - 5 up late
in the first half after full back Matthew Back scored a try
converted by Jamie Davies. Ryan Powell touched down for the
visitors. The Welsh Scottish League side took the lead in the 37th
minute when Nicky Robinson kicked a penalty before a controversial
injury time try by Liam Roberts, converted by Robinson, saw the
Blue & Blacks go into the interval 15 - 7 up. By the 49th minute
the visitors lead was up to 14 points thanks to two further
penalties by Robinson. The Wizards did not give up though - a drop
goal and two penalties by Scott Leighton made the score 21 - 16 in
Cardiff's favour with just five minutes left. However, it was not
to be Aberavon's day as an injury time penalty by Iestyn Harris
made the final score 24 - 16 to Cardiff.
The Wizards team that day was: Matthew Back; Sam Greenaway, Barry
Maddocks, Scott Leighton, Daran Griffiths; Jamie Davies, Daniel
Hawkins (capt); Rob Price (rep Mike Harris), Jason Hyatt, Andrew
Clatworthy (rep Greg Dix), Dafydd Owen, Chris Gittins, Natano
Tiatia (rep Gareth Newman), Richard Morris, Andrew Thomas.
The referee for Saturday’s game is Hugh Watkins, aided by touch
judges Jonathan Mason and Alwyn Harries.
Ray Giles will be holding a bucket collection during the game for
GLAZE which is a charity that helps develop new prostate cancer
treatment.
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