Last weekend the young Welsh referee was in Cape Town officiating at the Cape Town Sevens, where he controlled the final between South Africa and France, in temperatures that were in the mid to high 20s, whereas the prediction for Carmarthen at 7.30pm is around 6 degs celcius.
Aberavon will arrive needing a game having already lost two matches this season to the weather. Their home clash with Newport in September was abandoned at half-time because of the torrential rain, while last weekend’s game against Ebbw Vale at Talbot Athletic Ground was postponed because of Storm Darragh.
It has left the Wizards trailing by two games to the rest of the teams in the bottom half of the 10-team league, and they are currently one off the bottom with 13 points from their seven games to date.
They will also be seeking a double having beaten the Quins 24-18 at home in September. To do so they will need to pick up their first away win of the campaign.
Carmarthen have picked up four wins from their nine games and are on the cusp of the top half of the table, one point behind fifth place Pontypool. Three of their four wins have come at Carmarthen Park, against Swansea, Cardiff and Pontypool.
The Wizards were impressive 34-18 victors’ over RGC on their last outing and will be hoping to replicate that form as they head west. They will run into a familiar face with 39-year-old Aled Thomas filling the No 10 jersey for the Quins.
Thomas spent three seasons at the Talbot Athletic Ground and is now playing for Cefneithin and the Quins. Not bad for a man who announced his retirement in 2017.
But the World Cup Sevens winner with Wales in 2009 just keeps on going and continues to provide a great service to the youngsters vying with him for the No 10 shirt at whichever club at which he is playing.
The two teams have met 40 times in the Welsh National League, with Aberavon holding the edge 24-15 with one game drawn. However, the stats show that the Quins have been stronger at home, leading the head-to-head at Carmarthen Park 11 – 8, with one draw, and winning the last two encounters there.
Carmarthen Quins: Eilir George; Ifan Davies, Iestyn Gwilliam, Jac Howells, Louis Rees; Aled Thomas, Rhodri Davies; James Newnian, Sion Jones, Connor Allen, Ryan Bean, Lee Taylor, Ben Williams, Tom Curry, Lewys Millin
Reps: Rhys Fawcett, Lewis Jones, Ifan James, Iestyn Wood, Keanu Evans, Rhodri Lewis, Elis Price, Gabe McDonaldAberavon: TBC
