It has been just over a month since the two sides last faced each other. On that occasion they went head to head in the semi final play off for the right to represent the Dragons region in this season’s British and Irish Cup.
Keys were the victors in that game by 16-13 with a try by James Cordy-Redden and 11 points from the boot of former Ebbw outside half Dorian Jones paving the way for Keys victory.
The Steelmen’s points came from a try by Owen Williams and eight points from outside half Iain Smerdon. The last time the sides met in the Principality Premiership was during the 2009/2010 season when Keys claimed the double over the Steelmen with a 36-12 victory at Eugene Cross Park and a 17-16 win at Pandy Park when the Keys side included a young number 8 named Taulupe ‘Toby’ Faletau and was captained by Lloyd Burns at hooker.
Ebbw’s return to the Principality Premiership could not have gone much better after the opening two weeks when they had a maximum total of 10 points from their opening 2 games. They started with a thrilling 30-29 win at home over Llandovery then followed that up with a 29 – 18 win at the Gnoll over Neath. Last Saturday they suffered their first defeat of the league season when Newport were triumphant at Eugene Cross Park by 25 points to 22, claiming their first win of the season so far.
Ebbw will no doubt be looking to bounce back from that shock defeat against Keys this weekend.
Keys make seven changes to the starting lineup that started last week in the excellent victory at Cardiff. Simon Williams comes in to the second row to make his first start for the club after two substitute appearances, replacing Scott Andrews who could be involved with Dragons at Llanelli on Sunday.
Cross Keys: 15 James Cordy-Redden 14 Lloyd Lewis 13 Leon Andrews (Capt) 12 Polu Uhi 11 Nathan Trowbridge 10 Dorian Jones 9 James Leadbeater; 1 Luke Garrett 2 Darren Hughes 3 Craig Gould 4 Danny Hodge 5 Simon Williams 6 Reuben Tucker 7 Scott Matthews 8 Adam Powell
Replacements: 16 Jon Howard, 17 Anthony Lott, 18 Richard Cornock/Keagan Bale, 19 Josh Skinner, 20 Nathan Williams, 21 Elliott Jones, 22 Owen Jones, 23 Carl Townsend.
