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Aberavon looking to maintain pressure on Prem leaders

Billy McBryde

Billy McBryde

Cardiff need to get back to get back to winning ways to ensure their dreams of completing the league and cup double this season don’t start to evaporate after a third defeat in their past five INdigo Group Premiership outings.

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RGC 1404 make the long trek south for tonight’s (Friday) game at the Arms Park and Blue & Blacks coach Steve Law won’t want a repeat of last weekend’s 20-18 defeat at Aberavon.

“We were disappointed with the defeat at Aberavon and that result has put pressure on us. It is no disgrace to come away from the Talbot Athletic Ground with a losing bonus point,” said Law.

“RGC is the only side that has scored more points in the league than us. We know how they like to play and it will be as important what we do without the ball as well as with it.

“There are a number of changes to the side from last week due to various circumstances, but that creates opportunities for those who have been selected.”

Having already beaten RGC twice this season, a hat-trick is needed to keep Cardiff on course for a first league title since 2009 in a game that will see Billy McBryde make his 50th consecutive appearance for the Gogs.

Last weekend’s defeat  for the league leaders cut their lead at the top to seven points over Carmarthen Quins, with the Wizards one point further back. Jason Hyatt’s side have the luxury of another home game tonight when they host Llandovery.

Another Cardiff slip-up, and a 12th win of the season for Aberavon, and what at one stage was a 10 point lead could have virtually disappeared for the Arms Park outfit. They are due to defend their Specsavers Cup title in the semi-finals against Carmarthen Quins later in the month, while Aberavon are preparing to meet Merthyr in the other semi.

“We knew that if we’d lost to Cardiff our hopes of catching them in the Premiership would have been over, but there is still all to play for at the moment. I’m delighted with the attitude of my players at training, and how they are performing, so we just need to keep on doing what we are doing,” said Hyatt.

“It’s another big game against Llandovery and we know they will present us with a big challenge. We are building towards an exciting end to the domestic season.”

Llandovery are currently in fourth place, just five points behind them. They are looking to climb up the table and Euros Evans’ side have won their last three games and picked up four wins on the road already this season.

The other fixture sees Newport welcome Llanelli to Rodney Parade for an 8.00pm kick-off. The Black & Ambers have won four of their five league games this year and will go into the game on the back of a notable win at Sardis Road against Pontypridd in their last outing.

TONIGHT’S TEAMS

Cardiff: Ioan Davies; James Beal, Leon Andrews, Jack Brooks, Teri Gee; Joe Scrivens, Tom Habberfield; Thomas Davies, Evan Yardley, Will Davies-King, Macauley Cook, Callum Bradbury, Nathan Hudd, Zach O’Driscoll, Morgan Allen (captain)
Reps: Brynley Toms, Iestyn Harris, Ollie Drake, Kieran Martin, Sam Pailor, Ethan Lloyd, Gareth Thompson, Edd Howley

RGC 1404: Afon Bagshaw; Harri Evans, Tom Hughes (captain), Danny Cross, Delwyn Jones; Billy McBryde, Nick Butterworth; Joe Simpson, George Roberts, Jordan Scott, Bryn Jones,  Andrew Williams, Sam Williams, Dan Owen, Jordan Jones
Reps: Rhodri King, Jessie Williams, Rhys Roberts, Oscar Crowe, Tim Grey, Oscar Lennon, Rhys Tudor, Dion Jones

Aberavon: Jonathan Phillips; Chris Banfield, Chay Smith, Will Price, Stef Andrews; James Garland, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Rowan Jenkins, Cameron Lewis, Geraint James, Ben Thomas, Sam Williams, Lee Purnell, Andrew Waite, Joe Tomalin-Reeves (captain)
Reps: Rhodri Cole, Aled Thomas, Joe Gage, Rhys M Thomas, Luke Davies, Rhys Thomas, Jon Thomas, Shay Smallman

Llandovery: Llew Smith; Rhodri Wall, Craig Woodall, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Dafydd Land; Jamie Hughes, Alun Rees, Berian Watkins, Morgan Jones, Joe Powell, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Stuart Worrall, Richard Brooks (captain)
Reps: Llyr Green, Dino Dallavalle, Rhys Jones, Shaun Miles, Garan Williams, Ryan Evans, Gavin Thomas, Lee Rees

Newport: Llywarch Ap Myrddyn; Harri Lang, Jon Morris, Harry Griffiths, Elliot Frewen; Matt O’Brien,  Luke Crane; Dan Preece, Jamie Jeune, Garin Harris, Andrew Mann, Joe Bartllett, Rhodri Jones, Josh Reid, Rhys Jenkins (captain)
Reps: Lewis Smout, Matt Dwyer, Tom Piper, Elliot Ferriman, Kyle Tayler, Dan Babos, Haydn Simmons, Ryan Gardner

Llanelli: Kalum Evans; Callum Williams, Jonny Lewis, Iwan Evans, Eray Wilson; Ioan Hughes, Griff Williams; Craig Thomas, Greg George, Ryan Thomas, Chris Long, Ed Couzens, Harry Breeze, Nathan Hart (captain), Josef Miles
Reps: Rhys Cherry, Dylan Lawley, Lewis Davies, Ashleigh Hyndman, Elis Hopkins, Jay Weavers, Tadhg McGuckin, Ashley Sutton

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