Principality Premiership Team News

Bridgend v Neath

Celtic Crusaders’ wing Paul Morgan plays his first game for The Ravens against Neath, having signed for Bridgend this week for the remainder of the 2006/07 season.

After a 64-22 humbling at the hands of Llanelli in their last match,  Bridgend coach Chris Stephens has made eight further changes, with Richard Radford, Mark David, Brendan Roach, Craig Voisey, Ieuan Dobbs, Rhodri Jones. Mike Powell and Gareth Williams all coming in alongside Morgan.

After the wholesale changes, only Gareth David, Chris Tossell, Darren Simpson, Paul Clapham, Marvin Thomas and Adam Whitney maintain their places in the starting XV.

Meanwhile, top of the table Neath are boosted by the return of lock Martin Morgan after injury for the visit to the Brewery Field.

Morgan resumes his place in the second row alongside skipper Steve Martin.

Also returning to a strong-looking pack is hooker Gerwyn Price who was a replacement last week when the Welsh All Blacks beat Maesteg 34-13.

Head Coach Rowland Phillips said he was pleased with the performance which saw the men from the Gnoll return to the top of the pile last week:

He said: “We were on the whole satisfied with our display last week in beating Maesteg 34-13 and if we had not tried to force things we would have fared even better.

“Our mindset was solid with a strong commitment when we had to defend and the team is growing in confidence.

“It is nice to be back on top of the League but being  there will not make much difference to how sides approach Neath because all opponents seem to raise their game against us anyway.”

But despite the gulf between the two clubs, Phillips believes his side can’t take anything for granted against the Ravens.

“We know we must be on top of our game to succeed at the Brewery Field,” he said.

“Bridgend are always combative up front and they have excellent halves in Nicky Griffiths and Gareth David who will need careful attention.

“Bridgend will be mindful that they lost heavily at Llanelli last week but that will make them doubly determined to bounce back and with good rugby weather forecast we, and our growing travelling support, are looking forward to what we always view as one of the games of the season.”

Neath (from): G.King, A.Bramwell K.James, S.Thomas, A.Bevan, G.J.James, J.Spratt, A,Thomas, G.B.James, R.Lewis; N.Downs, P.Jones, A.Howell, G.Price, E.Shervington, C.Griffiths; E.Evans, S.Martin (captain), M.Morgan; C.Davies, A.Llewellyn, B.Davies, D.McShane, J.McPhail

Bridgend: Gareth David, Paul Morgan, Chris Tossell, Darren Simpson, Richard Radford,  Mark David, Brendan Roach, Craig Voisey, Ieuan Dobbs, Rhodri Jones. Paul Clapham, Mike Powell, Marvin Thomas (c), Adam Whitney, Gareth Williams

Cardiff v Cross Keys

Cardiff’s home match against Cross Keys on Saturday coincides with the 130th anniversary of the club’s first match to be played at Cardiff Arms Park.

On Saturday 14 October 1876, three weeks after the Cardiff Rugby Football Club had been established through the amalgamation of Cardiff Wanderers and the Glamorgan Football Club, the Captain’s XV played the Vice-Captain’s XV as a final trial ahead of the fixture against Newport in early December of that year.

This week, exactly 130 years later, the Blue & Blacks entertain Cross Keys in a Principality Premiership fixture.

Director of coaching Justin Burnell has kept changes to last week’s winning line-up at Llandovery to a minimum. The only newcomer in the backs is scrum-half Llyr Lane who makes his full Cardiff debut after playing as a replacement last week. Darren Allinson injured a shoulder at Llandovery and is likely to be sidelined for over a month.

In the pack Chris Stamatakis joins Dafydd Rosser in the second row and the only other change will be at number 6 where Gavin Lucas is unavailable. A decision on his replacement will be taken closer to the match.

Among the replacements, props Rhys Gill and Scott Roberts have both reported fit after missing last week through injury. They are likely to play some part against the Keys. Hooker Ross Johnston, another absentee last week, is still nursing damaged ankle ligaments.

Cross Keys go into the match looking to repeat last week’s performance where they ran in five tries to dispose of Pontypridd 39-6.

Back row men Colin Bridges and Wayne Murphy will be making their first starts for the club, with Murphy playing against his former club.

Cardiff: Leon Andrews; Daniel Gravell, Richard Davies, Richard Jones, Thomas James; Chris Anderson, Llyr Lane; Gareth Gunter, Michael Leaman, Luke Hunter, Dafydd Rosser, Chris Stamatakis, A N Other, Chris Jones, Gareth Gravell (captain)
Replacements: Rhys Gill, Ryan Price, Scott Roberts, James Down, A N Other, Owen Ruttley, Elgan Jones

Cross Keys; A.N. Other, Gareth Turner, A.N. Other, David Price, David James, Scott Mitchell, Owen Jones, Colin Bridges, Wayne Murphy, Rhys Williams, Will Thomas (c), Grant Wilson, Craig Gould, Rhys Miller, Richard Cornock.
Replacements: Brendon Fisher, Garry Horrigan, Julian Price, Mark Curtis, Geraint Gladwyn, James Pizey, Dan Dark.

Ebbw Vale v Swansea

Team news yet to be announced

Llanelli v Aberavon

With no regional game this weekend, Llanelli have drafted in Scarlets star Lou Reed for their clash with second placed Aberavon.

Reed’s progress has been hampered by a shoulder injury in recent weeks, but he will be hoping to catch the eye of Scarlets director of rugby Phil Davies tomorrow as Llanelli look to build on last weekend’s 64-22 thumping of Bridgend.

Although Llanelli are in 11th place, they are the second highest try scorers in the division, in part due to Craig Richards, the Principality Premiership’s joint leading try scorer, and hat trick hero last week against Bridgend.

Richards is part of a back line which features only one change from last week, with Morgan Stoddart replacing Daniel Evans at full back.

In the pack, aside from Reed, Wales Under 21 Ian Jones and Dan Godfrey are handed starting berths.

After last weeks rout of Bridgend the Scarlets will be confident against the Wizards.

“We always knew we had quality players within our squad to do well this year and against Bridgend we showed what we are capable of,” said Gren Cole.

“The important thing now is that we maintain that form tomorrow, especially against a side like Aberavon”

The Wizards were pushed off top spot by neighbours Neath last weekend after being edged out by much-improved Ebbw Vale 27-25 at Eugene Cross Park.

Although they didn’t pick up any injuries from a bruising contest, promising young fly-half Jamie Garland broke his leg playing for Vardre on the very same day.

For tomorrow’s game at Stradey Park, Aberavon have made eight changes to the side that started at Eugene Cross Park last Saturday.

Five of the changes are made upfront with Mike Harris and Ospreys Under 20 hooker Marc Breeze coming into the front row with Lloyd Howell and Chris Wells relegated to the bench.

For the second week running the second rows change with captain Chris Gittins coming back from injury. He joins Ian Moore and they replace Paul Morgan and Andrew Fisher, with the latter dropping to the bench. One change is made in the backrow with Steve Phillips coming in for Darryl Thomas.

In the backs, David Hawkins swaps with Darren Ryan at inside centre while Ricky Richards starts at scrum half ahead of backs coach Daniel Hawkins. On the left wing, Scarlets U20 centre Richard Thomas comes in for Daran Griffiths.

Llanelli: Morgan Stoddart, Alec Jenkins, Quintin Snyman, Paul Mackey, Craig Richards, Gareth Bowen, Lee Williams, Ian Jones, Ken Owens, Andrew Clatworthy, Adam Powell, Lou Reed, Ioan Cunningham(capt), Jon Edwards, Dan Godfrey,
Replacements: Peter Edwards, Craig Hawkins, A.N.Other, Chris Rowe, Jon Mills, Liam Davies, Dan Evans

Aberavon: Liam Gadd; Richard Carter, Paul Bamsey, David Hawkins, Richard Thomas; Jamie Davies, Ricky Richards; Mike Harris, Marc Breeze, James Jones, Ian Moore, Chris Gittins (capt), Steve Phillips, Robbie Morgan, Simon Peters.
Replacements: Daniel Hawkins, Gareth Knox, Darren Ryan, Chris Wells, Lloyd Howell, James Davies, Andrew Fisher.

Maesteg v Glamorgan Wdrs

Although they are bottom of the Principality Premiership, Maesteg know a win against the Wanderers, who are level with them on points, will see them rise off the foot of the table.

After going down 34-13 at the Gnoll last week, Maesteg have made one change in the backs, with Sam Rees starting at scrum half in place of Lloyd O’Conner.

Gareth Edwards, Steve Tremlett, Gavin Ronan and Matthew Wareham return from injury to strengthen the pack

Maesteg:  A Hutchings, N Dixon, G Holmes, M Davies, M Owen, L Richards, S Rees, G Edwards, L Williams, S Tremlett, G Ronan, P Jones, M Wareham, K Hocking, I Boobyer (c)
Replacements:  J Rimmer, L O’Connor,A Mathews, K Baldwin, R Megraw, C Hopkins, W Pooley

Newport v Llandovery

The Black and Ambers, the only team to concede fewer then 100 points this season,  have made several changes for the visit of Llandovery to Rodney Parade

Five have been made among the backs with two positional. Luke Hathaway comes in at fullback for Jason Tovey who moves to outside centre with Nathan Williams moving out onto the wing replacing Mike Poole.

There is a change in the half back partnership with James Dixon and James Ireland replacing Dan Griffiths and Matthew Thomas respectively.

In the forwards, Andrew Brown starts in the No.2 jersey in place of Rhys James, Mark Workman replaces James Connors, who is named on the replacements bench, while Lewis Evans comes in for Richard Dale at blindside flanker.

At openside flanker Paul Williams has recovered from his neck injury to take his place in the starting line up with Craig Hill among the substitutes.

Newport: Luke Hathaway, Ryan Howells, Jason Tovey, Scott Williams, Nathan Williams,  James Dixon, James Ireland, Dai Pattison, Andrew Brown, Gethin Robinson, Mark Workman, Matthew Veater, Lewis Evans, Paul Williams, Andrew Coombs
Replacements: Phil Osborne, Rhys James, James Connors, Craig Hill, Matthew Thomas, Daniel Griffiths, Mike Poole

Pontypridd v Bedwas

Eighth placed Ponty have been dealt a double injury blow in the lock position as they prepare for the Bedwas game this weekend, with Chris Dicomidis suffering a broken arm and Grant Harrington a broken wrist.

A potential crisis has however been avoided with the return to fitness of Dale McIntosh and Damian Welch, with young prop Nick Eaves providing bench cover for the second row berth.

Other returnees from recent injury problems are winger Dan Hitchings and hooker Leighton Davies, both claiming their places in the Ponty starting line up, whilst scrum half Gareth Jones is making far swifter progress than expected from his shoulder injury, but requiring a late fitness test before the game on Saturday.

Having overcome a long standing groin problem, centre Lawrence Price is now ready to challenge for a place in the Ponty team, and is amongst the substitutes.

Meanwhile influential number 8 Nathan Strong resumes action stations having sat out his ban for an early season sending off at Neath.

Pontypridd: Jason Pocock. Dan Hitchings. Gavin Dacey. Dafydd Lockyer. Gareth John. Neil Burnett. Gareth Jones. Stuart Williams. Leighton Davies. Ryan Harford. Dale McIntosh (capt). Damian Welch. Lee Evans. Adam Powell. Nathan Strong.
Subs: Ian Poley; Lee Pearce; Nick Eaves; Tu Tamarua; Ryan Harries; Dylan Jones; Lawrence Price.