SWALEC Bowl preview: Trebanos
Abercarn skipper Gareth Peebles (left) and Trebanos captain Rhodri Thomas eye up the SWALEC Bowl at the Millennium Stadium just two days away from the big kick-off.
Both teams in the SWALEC Bowl final are promising a feast of running rugby. (KO 1pm).
Division Four East side Abercarn have come through some tight encounters to reach the final, but honorary secretary Andrew Chetland is confident his side can claim the silverware.
“We’ve had some tight games, Bridgend Sports in the quarter-final was tough and we did well to come away with a 13-9 win, while Pontardawe in the semi-finals was a great cup tie which we edged 22-17. Now we’re at the Millennium Stadium, which is incredible.
“We have never played Trebanos before in my memory, but we know they score a lot of tires and like to play running rugby. We’ll try to play in a similar fashion so it should make for an entertaining game for the fans.”
Trebanos ‘historian’ Clive Penhale says that reaching the ‘Millennium Stadium is a dream come true.’
“We’re only a small mining village but we have produced some top internationals in our time, like Arwel Thomas, Robert Jones and Bleddyn Bowen,” he added.
The Division Four South West side is at the heart of the community, Penhale, adding: “Most of the players have been with us since the juniors and they turn out for the love of the club. The club is at the heart of the village and everyone is involved in the rugby club in some way. I’d love to win but if Abercarn beat us they’ll have deserved it. Whatever the result, it won’t detract from the memories of a very special day in our history.”
Abercarn: Jason Evans, Scott Llewellyn, Jack Davies, Nicky Lloyd, Rhys Isles; Gethin Paterson, Karl Kinsey; Ryan Hodges, Aaron Davies, Chris Kinsey, Gareth Peebles (capt), Shane Reece, Chris Rogers, Matthew Harper, Ben James
Replacements: Ryan Anderson, Tim Jones, Dean Johnson, Jason Noakes, Owen Glastonbury, Ben Farley, Fin Corcoran
Trebanos: Cerith Edwards; Andrew Penhale, Rhodri Thomas (capt), Gareth Hopkins, Jordan Hopkins; Nick Damjanovic, Kristian Jones; Rhys Thomas, Rhys Thomas, Chris Balfe, James Erasmus, Bradley Owens, Rhys Carney, Malcolm Whiteman, Luke Davies
Replacements: Chris Harris, David Davies, Steve Morgan, Amer Hussain, Tom Carney, Rhys Jones, Steve Williams.