|
Aberavon v Ebbw Vale MatchPack : Preview
|
|
Aberavon |
 |
v |
 |
Ebbw Vale |
Principality Building Society Premiership, Talbot Athletic Ground, Saturday September 29th 2007
 |
Aberavon will hope to build on their win over Newport last weekend when they host Ebbw Vale this Saturday in the Principality Building Society Premiership. Kick off is an hour earlier than normal to avoid clashing with the Wales v Fiji World Cup game. The Wizards game kicks off at 1:30pm while the Wales game starts at 4:00pm. |
Ebbw Vale have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their games this season.
In their opening game at home to Swansea, the Steelmen were
pipped 26 - 25 in a game which they lost lock Neil Edwards midway
through the first half when he was sent off. The
Gwent side drew 13 - 13 at Maesteg a week later before recording
their first win of the season on Saturday when they beat Bridgend
28 - 13 at Eugene Cross Park.
Head-to-head, Aberavon and Ebbw Vale have faced each other 18
times in the Welsh National League with the sides tied on 9
wins each. At the Talbot Athletic Ground the Wizards lead the
series by 7 wins to 2 with the Steelmen's last league win at
the ground occurring nine seasons ago.
In last seasons fixture the Wizards outscored the then league
leaders 5 - 3 on try count to run out 39 - 19 winners. However,
there was never a 20-point difference in the two sides, though
Aberavon were more than willing to play running rugby and Scarlets
under-20 centre Richard Thomas was outstanding with a two-try
contribution. Both packs had their moments with Richard Morris
searching for a club record-breaking 126th try and Ian Moore
and Darryl Thomas supporting to the hilt, yet the Ebbw Vale
back-row of John Bowd, Hywel Jenkins and skipper Craig Cleaver
never yielded.
The Wizards team that day was: Liam Gadd; Richard Carter, Richard
Thomas (rep Paul Bamsey), Darren Ryan, James Pike; Jamie Davies,
Daniel Hawkins; Mike Harris, Chris Wells, James Jones (rep Lloyd
Howell), Paul Morgan (rep Andrew Fisher), Chris Gittins (capt),
Ian Moore, Richard Morris, Darryl Thomas (rep Simon Peters).
Darren Ryan, Jamie Davies and Liam Gadd also scored tries for
the Wizards while Davies kicked 14 points with the boot.
The referee for Saturday's game is Huw David, aided by touch
judges David Williams and Peter Mortimer.
|
