RGC 1404 opened their league game with a great victory over reigning champions Merthyr last weekend and now new head coach Matt Silva is looking to make it a notable double by knocking-out the cup holders at Parc Eirias.
“It was great to see 1,300 at last weekend’s game and the noise they created made a huge difference to the boys on the pitch. We need to create more of that on Saturday when Cardiff come to us,” said Silva.
“We started the season against the League champions, next up are the Cup winners and then we have to go to Llandovery. This is going to be the hardest year for the Premiership clubs because the talent is more concentrated and there is no margin for error.”
Cardiff were 27-15 winners in Colwyn Bay in January in the second round last season, but were hammered 63-24 on the final day of the Premiership season on their last visit when there was nothing on the fixture.
Head coach Steve Law doesn’t foresee any repeat of the latter result and, despite losing a number of players to injury and unavailability this weekend, is looking to keep his hands on what is now the Specsavers National Cup.
“We worked really hard to win the cup last season, enjoyed the ride to the Principality Premiership and are in no mood to let go of the trophy without a real battle,” said Law.
“We are a little bit stretched behind the scrum because of injuries to James Beal and Edd Howley, who is likely to be out for six weeks with a broken hand, and the unavailability of Sam Beard, but there will be no excuses from us. We know what we are in for at RGC and we have picked our strongest available side.”
The game in Colwyn Bay is one of only two all Premiership match-ups, with Merthyr, runners-up to Cardiff earlier in the year, hosting Pontypridd in the other one at The Wern. With both teams having lost on the opening weekend they will both be desperate to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.
Giant killing will be on the agenda in a number of other matches, none more so than at Pontypool Park, where the home side host Swansea in a repeat of the 1983 Cup Final that the Gwent side won. Having beaten Cross Keys (12-9), Bridgend (21-11), Carmarthen Quins (23-8), Cardiff (43-22) and Llanelli (19-14) in the past three seasons in the cup, there will be little or no fear in the home ranks when the Whites arrive.
Narberth will also be fancying their chances at Eugene Cross Park, where Ebbw Vale went down to Newport in their opening game of the season last weekend. Greg Woods, the coach of the Steelmen, has already guided Cross Keys to a famous cup triumph and he wants to do the same with Ebbw Vale.
“In some ways the cup is more important than the league. We have the ability to win it because we are a tough side to beat, but we can’t and we won’t treat Narberth lightly,” said Woods.
“I made it very clear to the players that Ebbw Vale has never won the cup and we are here to try to deliver some silverware. I did it with Cross Keys as a coach and the cup is a massive focus for us this season after two massive heartbreaks against Merthyr in the competition in recent seasons.
“We want to make sure we are in the hat for the second round because the cup is very special.”
The competition kicks-off at Rodney Parade on Friday night when Newport host Carmarthen Quins.
Specsavers National Cup Round 1
Friday, 13 September
Newport v Carmarthen Quins
Saturday, 14 September
Aberavon v Bargoed
Beddau v Bridgend
Cardiff Met v Ystrad Rhondda
Cross Keys v Glamorgan Wanderers
Ebbw Vale v Narberth
Llandovery v Ystalyfera
Maesteg Quins v Llanelli
Merthyr v Pontypridd (5.15pm)
Neath v Trebanos
Pontypool v Swansea
RGC v Cardiff
Tata Steel v Bedwas
