When Ebbw Vale went down to the Arms Park on 19 September they were beaten 29-12 by Cardiff, their only defeat in eight games, and they will have added incentive to gain revenge with the SRC Challenger Shield on the line in the return match.
The Steelmen won the Shield when they beat holders Llandovery at Church Bank 31-28 to complete an early season double over the Drovers. Since then, they have successfully defended the Shield, which is only up for grabs in the home games of the holders, against RGC.
Cardiff currentlytop the table by two points and have also only lost once to date, against Carmarthen Quins in west Wales, 31-19. In football parlance, today’s game will feel very much like a ‘six-pointer’ with whoever wins set to lead the rest going into the ‘Festive Season’.
“We are really looking forward to the game as players and as a club. We know it is going to be very cold, it always is in Ebbw, but there will be a warm reception for the Cardiff players on the field,” said Ebbw Vale head coach Jason Strange.
“Both teams have started really well, and this one is nicely set-up. We lost down in Cardiff and that is the only time this season we’ve been disappointed with our performance.
“We came into this campaign having taken a lot of learnings from losing two semi-finals last season and the goal is definitely to finish in the top two places to secure a home semi-final.”
Cardiff will be without five players who were involved with Wales U20 in a warm-up fixture in Merthyr yesterday, while Ebbw will be missing one.
Tom Bowen will also be missing on the wing as he has been promoted to the regional side for their clash with the Toyota Cheetahs in the EPCR Challenge Cup. It could be a special day for Cardiff’s other wing Dewi Cross, who is now on 49 tries in 52 appearances for the Blue & Blacks.
Tom Bowen is on duty for the Cardiff regional side in Europe
Third place Newport host bottom of the table Swansea, who are yet to register a win in nine games this season. Even so, the All Whites beat the Black & Ambers in their own back yard last season, which means there can be no room for complacency.
Harri Ackerman should finally get a chance to play for the first time since March after recovering from a broken leg to boost his hopes of returning to Dragons’ action in the not-too-distant future. Will Reed gets a run at outside half.
Llandovery will welcome RGC to Church Bank and Pontypool entertain Bridgend in the other games.
