And if there was ever one fixture guaranteed to inspire an extra effort from the Welsh All Blacks then it would be a Boxing Day derby against old rivals Aberavon. As the only Premiership game of the day, it promises to be a cracker at The Gnoll (2.30pm kick-off).
The first Boxing Day clash between the two cubs was at the Talbot Athletic Ground in 1946, when Neath won 10-0. In 1948, Neath met London Welsh at The Gnoll on Christmas Day and then beat Aberavon on Boxing Day 9-6 at home.
The Christmas holiday fixtures always drew the biggest gates of the season and in 1949 there were 9,000 at the Talbot Athletic Ground to witness a 0-0 draw. In 1953, Aberavon met Maesteg at home on Christmas Day and then went to The Gnoll to face Neath on Boxing Day.
When the team teams met on the opening day of the current season, after Neath had been promoted from the Championship along with champions Pontypool, it ended up being a 27-14 win for the Wizards. But that is the most recent statistic in a sequence of games that dates back to the nineteenth century, the balance is still in Neath’s favour over the course of the Premiership era.
In their head-to-head history in the Welsh National League, Neath are ahead 25-15, with one game drawn, over 41 fixtures. More importantly, they lead 13-6 at The Gnoll, although Aberavon have won on their last three visits.
Statistics, more statistics and damn lies maybe. One thing is certain, there will be no margin for error on either side.
Aberavon have lost their last two games, both against Llandovery in the cup and the league, while Pat Horgan’s Neath team are still awaiting that first win.
They have picked up four bonus-points and are only five points shy of Carmarthen Quins, who had only won once coming into the festive season.
Neath: Lewis Evans; Steff Gibson, Ryan Evans (captain), Kristian Jones, Ryan Griffiths; Steff Williams, Elis Horgan; Jack Powell, Sion Crocker, Tim Ryan, Matthew Davies, Cai Arnold, Jacob Blackmore, Morgan Kneath, Ben Williams
Reps: Chris Morris, Mason Morgan, Gareth Lloyd, Thomas John, Dyfan Ceredig, Gruff Williams, Sion Wilcox, James Roberts
Aberavon: Joe Gage (captain); Jay Baker, Frankie Jones, Bradley Roderick, Chris Banfield; James Davies, Liam Seaward; Rowan Jenkins, Cameron Lewis, Geraint James, Rhys Thomas, Rhodri Hughes, Travis Huntley, Andrew Waite, Cameron Loveys
Reps: Scott Whitlock, Sam Jardine, Scott Delnevo, Saul Hurley, Shay Smallman, Ben Gregory, Jordan Walters, Chris Davies
