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Aberavon v Llandovery MatchPack :
Editor's Viewpoint
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Each Year...
... the close-season seems to go flying by with increasing speed. Only a few days ago, it seems, we were all gathered here on an unseasonably chilly April evening as the Wizards took the field for their penultimate home appearance of the 2007-08 campaign. The opposition that evening, as you will no doubt by now have guessed, were the Drovers, fighting what has mysteriously become a perennial battle against relegation over the past couple of seasons – a baffling fact given that they seldom fail to to provide anything less than tough opposition at any venue. Take that last game, which the Wizards won 42-26, as an example. It wasn't until quite late in the game that the Wizards, who had been well and truly 'on song' for quite some time, and in fact hadn't lost at home since the previous November, overcame a tenacious Llandovery counter-offensive that saw them produce some breathtaking stuff.
It's good to see them back, particularly as we can look forward to the trip up to that most pleasant part of Carmarthenshire for the return fixture at Church Bank later in the season. Elsewhere in these pages Howard Evans has extended our customary welcome to our visitors, using his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Welsh rugby scene to do so in some style. As a very pale imitation of his efforts, I'd like to personally extend my own particular welcome to the one and only Lyndon Lewis, a popular character here during his tenure as an Aberavon player and, more latterly, captain, whose infectious enthusiasm both on and off the field made him a great favourite amongst the supporters. Having burst onto the Aberavon scene at the beginning of the 1987-88, a serious injury put things on hold for him for several months before he returned to cement his place in the team. Having stayed loyal to the club during a turbulent close-season, he went on to perform a key role in the Wizards' historic win over the touring Samoans in October 1988 and went on to lead the side to promotion in the most literal of senses a few seasons later. I can still clearly remember his most telling contribution in the final match of the 1991-92 season when victory at Glamorgan Wanderers was required to clinch promotion; with the Wanderers giving it their all up the left-hand touchline, the ball was turned over and found its way out to the Wizards' full-back and skipper. As the home side tried to scramble back in defence Lyndon, never short of pace, took off like a scalded cat, covering about seventy metres to open the scoring under the posts at the opposite end and pave the way for a comfortable victory. I hope he still enjoys that kind of memory of his spell here at Aberavon.
But what of the Wizards' opening day performance last week? St Helens has seldom been the happiest of hunting grounds for as long as I can remember but, despite the eventual closeness of the scoreline, they were worthy victors. What was particularly pleasing was the way in which several newcomers slotted into the line-up and performed with distinction. In fact two of our four tries came from league debutants Dai Pritchard and Luke Hathaway, giving some symmetry to a scoresheet that otherwise contained some of the most established players in 'Buddha' (a first try from him since... well... ages ago – actually in the cup against Fleur de Lys four seasons ago, he tells me) and the evergreen 'George' (further extending that record-breaking total), with, inevitably, Jamie's right boot filling in the gaps.
We should not be dwelling in the past, however, even if it is as recent as just last week. On, instead, to this week and beyond. Llandovery have a point to prove following a disappointing encounter with Bridgend that was, I'm told, somewhat controversial, while the Wizards must now try to push on and build on a good result.
Enjoy the game.
Paul Williams
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