As the battle to reach the top eight places to battle for the title from January intensifies with the last two fixtures, the Wizards sit proudly on top of the table after their Boxing Day triumph over arch-rivals Neath. Hyatt’s men finish off with a trip to Bridgend this weekend and then a home clash with Merthyr.
“Due to the five day turn-around we have made a few changes for the game at Bridgend, but we will go into the Merthyr game fully loaded. We’ve managed the season pretty well so far and we haven’t over played any of our players,” said Hyatt.
“We felt last year we hit a bad patch around the Christmas period because some players had had too many games. This season we have improved the quality and depth of our squad and been able to rotate players to keep them fresh.
“Our win over Neath, coupled with Merthyr’s defeat by RGC 1404, meant we can’t be overtaken for a top eight finish and that means we have ticked the first box for the season. Now it is going to be full steam ahead with a very important month of rugby ahead of us, especially with the cup game against Llandovery coming up as well.”
They might well go on to finish top of the pile after the opening 15 games of the season, but all teams, in both sections in the second half, will go back to zero points and start again.
“We are all experiencing a new competition this season, but there are far more positives than negatives surrounding the new format. And the second half of the season, even though there is no reward for finishing at the top, is going to be red hot,” added Hyatt.
“The Premiership is as much about developing players as it is winning titles and the intensity that will come with the split will really help to expose players to a higher grade of rugby. We have seen Steff Andrews get a Wales Sevens contract, Jay Baker turn out for the Ospreys and we’ve had nine players involved with the Ospreys British & Irish Cup teams.
“We are really proud of our record in developing players and we’ve been using the Foster’s Challenge Cup to look at players for our own squad. Mike Wilson is a classic case in point there and he could really come through in the future.”
Defeat at Bargoed on Boxing Day condemned Bridgend to the bottom eight and made it five consecutive defeats. Matt Edwards, who scored twice against the Wizards in the 41-31 victory earlier in the season, starts in the back three.
Reigning champions Ebbw Vale face a massive test at home against Cardiff in what has turned into a must-win game after their defeat to Bedwas. They are one place and two points behind the Arms Park outfit, who currently lie in eighth place.
The Steelmen also have Cross Keys, one place below them, at home in their final game on 7 January and head coach Nigel Davies knows they have to pick up two wins to stay on course to fight to hold onto their title.
Merthyr, Pontypridd, RGC 1404 and Bedwas are all within touching distance of complete security, while Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins still need to fight for their tickets to the title race. Llandovery host Swansea, while Quins head to Neath.
Pontypridd welcome Cross Keys to Sardis Road in a game that will see the Gwent side going all out to close the gap on Cardiff and Ebbw Vale above them. Pontypridd have made six changes to the starting line-up that won at Cardiff.
Blues Academy prospect Ben Jones is handed the No 10 shirt with Ceri Sweeney unavailable. Bradley Coombes returns at centre and Dafi Davies gets a run out at openside flanker in a back row that sees Owen Sheppeard reach his 100th game for the club.
Principality Premiership Round 14
31 December 2016
Bedwas v Llanelli
Bridgend v Aberavon
Ebbw Vale v Cardiff
Llandovery v Swansea
Merthyr v Bargoed
Neath v Carmarthen Quins
Pontypridd v Cross Keys
2 January 2017
Newport v RGC 1404
TEAMS
Bedwas v Llanelli – 1.30pm
Bedwas: Aaron Bramwell; Mathew John, Adam Williams, Mike Callow, Pat Lewis; Richard Powell, Luke Crane; Dan Preece (captain), Alun Rees, Matthew Pettit, Joe Davies, Geraint Edmunds, James Benjamin, George Lee, Robson Blake
Reps: Bryn Toms, Geraint Clarke, Ken Dowding, Dan Crimmins, Andrew Waite, James Soanes, James Dixon, Connor Edwards
Llanelli: Dion Jones; Kalum Evans, Nathan Edwards, Jonny Lewis, Ryan Conbeer; Billy McBryde, Declan Smith; Rhys Fawcett, Taylor Davies, Tom Kaijaks, Adam Powell (captain), Ben Davies, Tom Phillips, Trystan Lloyd, Jack Condy
Reps: Dan Jacobs, Greg George, Simon Gardiner, Elliott Rees, Nathan Hart, Rhodri Cole, Paul Davies, Ashley Evans
Bridgend v Aberavon – 2.30pm
Bridgend: Dan Howells; Ryan Griffiths, Joe Gatt, Ryan Evans, Matthew Edwards; Jamie Murphy, Will Baird; Nicky Boyce, Iestyn Merriman, Cai Lewis, Jack Pope, Jonny Kenny, Owain Lloyd, Adam O’Driscoll (captain), Matthew John
Reps: Jordon Liney, Ollie Evans, Zac Evans, Jon Howard, Gareth Beer, Chris Williams, Joe Scrivens, Garin Lougher
Aberavon: Jonathan Phillips, David Richards-Evans, Rheon James, William Price, Steffan Andrews, James Garland, Jacob Flynn; Chris Davies, Joseph Tomalin-Reeves, Nathan Brown, Benjamin Davies, Ben Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Ieuan Davies, Rowan Jenkins
Subs: Steffen Williams, Jay Baker, Matthew Jenkins, Luke Davies, Luke Joseph, Alex Jeffries, Michael Burgess, Ian Moore
Ebbw Vale v Cardiff – 1.30pm
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond, Nathan Preece, AN Other, Dai Langdon, Craig Duncan; Josh Lewis, Dai Jones; Ross Jones, Joe Franchi, Gethin Robinson: Jonathan Davies, Damien Hudd (capt); Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes, Harri Keddie.
Subs: Jonny Bowen, Ian George, Robert Sevenoaks, Max Williams, Jack Goodey, Chris Thomas, AN Other, Srdan Majkic.
Cardiff: Codey Rees; James Beale, Lloyd Chalke, Harri Millard, Ceri Young; Gareth Thompson, Pele Cowley; Corey Domachowski, Joe Tomlinson, Kieron Assarratti, Seb Davies, James Murphy, Luke Crocker, Morgan Sienaiwski, Cam Dolan
Reps: Joe Page, Rhys Carre, Ben Leung, Jordan Viggers, Johnathan Edwards, Tom Slater, Paul King, Diggy Bird
Llandovery v Swansea – 1.30pm
Llandovery: Lee Rees; Corey Baldwin, Richard Smith, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Rhodri Davies; Dean Howells, Ryan Williams, Greg Cunniffe, Peter Edwards, Bryn Griffiths, Phil Day (captain), Stuart Worrall, Shaun Miles, Joe Powell
Reps: Berian Watkins, Jamie Hughes, Jake Baker, Richard Rees, Matthew Moore, Craig Woodall, Mike Evans, James Davies
Swansea: Luke Griffiths; Andrew Claypole, Ryan Evans, Jedd Evans, Josh Jones; Jac Wilson, Martin Luckwell; Tom Sloane, Ricky Guest, Mitchell Walsh, Jon Fox, Jay Williams, Jon Vaughan (captain), Jack Perkins, Rory Gallagher
Reps: Paul John, Richard Murphy, Sam Martin, Adam Thresher, Gavin Ronan, Mike Jones, Rory Garrett, Lee Edgecombe
Merthyr v Bargoed – 2.30pm
Merthyr: Matthew Jarvis; Teri Gee, David Bishop, Arron Pinches, Kyle Evans; Dean Gunter, Rhys Downes; Nathan Trevett, Matt Dwyer, Nathan Buck, Ben Murphy, Criag Locke (captain), Tom Daley, Ed Siggery, Phil Rees
Reps: Louis Jones, Rhys Williams, Ben Warren, Ruan Ludik, Nicholas White, Adam Hoskins, Richard Carter, Gavin Dacey
Bargoed: TBC
Neath v Carmarthen Quins – 2.30pm
Neath: Dan Guarneri; Ed Howley, Keiran Williams, Gavin Evans, Aaron Grabham; Iwan Evans, Chris Morgans; Neil White, Ifan Phillips, Geraint James, Rhys Jones, Jonny Griffiths, Jordan Collier (captain), Aled Morris, Scott Hicks
Reps: Sion Crocker, Ben Uphill, Ryan Thomas, Jon Barley, Tom Hayward, Josh Guy, Rory Morgan-Williams, Matt Pearce
Carmarthen Quins: Gavin Thomas, Tom Williams, Callum Price, John Williams, Chris Banfield, Steffan Marshall, Connor Lloyd; Lee Taylor, Shaun Evans, Shaun Jones, Haydn Pugh, Ben Thompson, Steffan Thomas, Torin Myhill, Gethin Robinson
Subs: Nathan Williams, Steffan Phillips, Javan Sebastian, Josh Helps, Lewys Millin, Gareth George, Joshua Batcup, Morgan Griffiths
Pontypridd v Cross Keys – 3.00pm
Pontypridd: Gary Williams; Lewis I Williams, Bradley Coombes, Dafydd Lockyer (captain), Dale Stuckey; Ben Jones, Dane Blacker; Joe Popple, Liam Belcher, Will Davies-King, Sean Moore, Chris Dicomidis, Jake Thomas, Dafi Davies, Owen Sheppeard
Reps: Joel Raikes, Lewis K Williams, Declan Williams, Ashleigh James, Lee Evans, Josh Novell, Sam May, Mitch Auger
Cross Keys: TBC
Newport v RGC 1404 – 7.15pm
Newport: Llywarch Ap Myrddin; Jonathan Morris, Tom Riley, Chay Smith, Elliott Frewen; Arwel Robson, Ryan James; James Greenfield, Henry Palmer, Christian Coleman, Adam Brown, Dan Partridge, Rhodri Jones, Rhys Jenkins, Reuben Tucker
Reps: Evan Whitson, John Lavender, Tom Piper, Dan Mock, Kyle Tayler, Owen Davies, Matt O’Brien, Wes Cunliffe
RGC 1404: TBC
* Pontypridd Youth host Treorchy Youth at Sardis Road in a District Cup quarter final tie as a curtain raiser to the Pontypridd v Cross Keys Premiership clash (KO midday)
