Welsh Rugby Union | Club & Community | PREM TEAMS: Owens warms up for Chicago at Eugene Cross Park

The Steelmen and Ironmen kicked-off Round 9 with an absorbing and physical clash at Eugene Cross Park, which saw the reigning champions Merthyr triumph 20-0 to consolidate their place at the top. Next week Owens will be in the idle at the iconic Soldiers Field, in Chicago, for the Test between Ireland and Italy.

“I always like to have a game the week before an international and, as I wasn’t on duty in the PRO14, I asked for a game in the Principality Premiership. It was a tough game, but i thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Owens.

The world’s most famous rugby referee was at the centre of attention after only four minutes when he not only awarded Merthyr a penalty try following a driving line-out that was sacked on the home line, but also sent home skipper Ronny Kynes to the sin-bin.

Merthyr hit them hard at the start of the game with a decisive driving line-out. Nick White took the ball at the tail and the rest of the pack joined him in driving up to the home line.

It was still 7-0 to Merthyr at the break before two penalties from Matthew Jarvis stretched the visitors’ lead to 13 points. Former Ospreys wing Jay Baker then powered over for a try that Jarvis converted to complete the scoring.

Today sees Bargoed hoping to build on their excellent win over Aberavon last week when they head north to face RGC 1404. There was a time when Parc Eirias was a fortress for the Gogs, but three of their four defeats to date this season have come at home.

Bargoed’s 38-18 home win over Aberavon last week made it back-to-back triumphs in the wake of their previous home win over Llanelli. Three in a row would be unprecedented or them in the Premiership and with four penalty tries in their past four games they have begun to build up a real head of steam up front.

“We know Bargoed will be tough after they had that win against Aberavon. They will come to us looking to continue that run of form,” said RGC centre Rhys Williams.

“We know they will come with a strong set piece and they will target us up front from the off. When you look at the past few games, we haven’t put in a full 80 minute performance and we’ve been punished for that.

“As a group we’re all focused on hitting our peak performance. We want to give our fans plenty to cheer about because they have been brilliant both home and away and deserve to see us play well.”

Danny Cross takes over at full back for the home side due to Dion Jones’ injury, while Will Bryan also makes a return to the starting XV. Harri Evans is named for the first time this season among the replacements.

Cardiff head coach Steve Law will be hoping his side’s defence matches their attack this week when they head to Aberavon. They beat Llanelli 52-41 in a points and try fest at the Arms Park last weekend to make it four wins in a row to move up into sixth in the table.

Cross Keys have lost the services of outside half Jason Tovey for their trip to Sardis Road following his call-up to Dragons duty in Ulster. The visitors will meet a home side boasting the same three quarter line that ended Ebbw Vale’s unbeaten run last weekend.

Wales Under 20 scrum half Dane Blacker comes in at scrum Half, while Cardiff Blues boys Alun Lawrence and Corey Domachowski come in to bolster the pack.

Llanelli host Bedwas in a key basement battle – the home side are currently one off the bottom, while Bedwas are two places and four points ahead with the same number of wins – while Carmarthen Quins entertain Bridgend.

Neath’s long wait for a first win could extend if Newport take with them to The Gnoll the form that enabled them to win in Colwyn Bay against RGC 1404 in their last away game. Swansea host Llandovery in the other game.

Principality Premiership – Round 9

Friday, 26 October
Ebbw Vale 0 – 20 Merthyr

Saturday, 27 October
Aberavon v Cardiff (2.30pm)
Aberavon: Jon Phillips; Matthew Jenkins, Will Price, Rheon James, Frankie Jones; James Garland (captain), Jacob Flynn; Mike Burgess, Cameron Lewis, Geraint James, Ben Thomas, Rhodri Hughes, Lee Purnell, Andrew Waite, Joe Tomalin-Reeves
Reps: Iwan Temblett, Joe Gage, Iwan Shenton, Jac Morgan, Ashton Evans, Jon Thomas, Rhys Henry, Marc Breeze
Cardiff: Ioan Davies; Matthew Powell, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Joe Gatt; Gareth Thompson, Martin Roberts; Thomas Davies, Joey Tomlinson (captain), Peter Lloyd, Miles Normandale, Callum Bradbury, Luke Crocker, Zach O’Driscoll, Rory Pitman
Reps: Fraser Young, Ian Jenkins, Keiron Brown, Sam Pailor, Morgan Allen, Nicky Griffiths, Steffan Jones, Llywarch Ap Myrddin

Carmarthen Quins v Bridgend (1.30pm)
Quins: Aled Thomas; Dale Ford, Nick Reynolds, Josh Batcup, Matthew John; Steff Marshall, Liam Davies; Gethin Robinson, Torin Myhill, Javan Sebastian, Lee Taylor, Haydn Pugh (captain), Ed Siggery, Ellis Lloyd, Lewys Millin
Reps: Steff Phillips, Thomas Ball, Connor Allen, Shaun Jones, Gethin Davies, Gareth Rees, Jac Wilson, Dylan Morgans
Bridgend: Caine Woolerton; Will Holley, Stuart Floyd Ellis, Nathan Edwards (captain), Mike Powell; Ryan Evans, Chris Williams; Owen Jordan, Gareth Harvey, Cai Lewis, James Little, Jack Pope, Tom Morgan, Adam O’Driscoll, Dafi Davies
Reps: Owen Thomas, Ollie Evans, Garyn Daniel, Chris John, Joe Grabham, Connor Tantum, Morgan Jones, Ashley Evans

Llanelli v Bedwas (2.30pm)
Llanelli: Ashley Sutton; Kalum Evans, Jonny Lewis, Joe Roberts, Liam Hutchings; Ioan Hughes, Gareth George; Rhys Thomas, Rhys Cherry, Richard Bassett, Chris Long, Matthew Davies, Lloyd Pike, Nathan Hart (captain), Joe Miles
Reps: Callum Jenkins, Dylan Lawley, Adam Thomas, Elliott Rees, Joel James, Josh Weeds, Oliver Reyland, Leon Randell
Bedwas: Joe Scrivens; Kane Teear-Bourge, Mike Callow, Lewis Bowden, Patric Lewis; Jacob Chilcott, Tom Rowlands; Brynley Toms, Alun Rees (captain), Rhys Hutcherson, Gareth Allen, Craig Hudd, James Richards, Sion Parry, Nathan Hudd
Reps: Tom Devine, Dale Rogers, Ellis Evans, Liam Beer, Jonathan Armitage, Luke Crane, Ben White, Mike Hathaway

Neath v Newport (2.30pm)
Neath: Edd Howley; Ian Eillis, Regan King, Gavin Evans, Mike Evans; Ceiron Thomas, Ruben Morgan- Williams; Ben Uphill, Sion Crocker, Liam Tobias, Rhys Jones, Scott Andrews, Jordan Collier, Lloyd Evans, Ieuan Jones
Reps: Luke Garrett, Garin Lloyd, Tyla Murvai, Ryan Bean, Leon Ward, Ellis Hopkins, Chris Morgans, Calum Hall
Newport: David Richards; Jon Morris, Tom Pascoe, Chay Smith, Elliot Frewen; Matt O’Brien, Ryan James; Lewis Smout, Will Evans, Garin Evans, Andrew Mann, Dan Partridge, Rhys Jenkins, Kyle Tayler, Mathew Reed
Reps: Henry Palmer, Dan Preece, Tom Piper, Josh Skinner, Morgan Burgess, Geraint Watkin, Matt McGovern, Geraint O’Driscoll

Pontypridd v Cross Keys (2.30pm)
Pontypridd: Dale Stuckey; Alex Webber, Alex Knott, Dafydd Lockyer, Cameron Lewis; Ben Jones, Dane Blacker; Corey Domachowski, Geraint Clarke, Gareth Smith, Chris Dicomidis, Sean Moore, Alun Lawrence, Morgan Sieniawski, Steffan Jenkins
Reps: Robert Jones, Huw Owen, Joe Popple, Lloyd Evans, Ioan Davies, Huw Rees, Gabriel Davies, Lewis Williams
Cross Keys: Leon Andrews (captain); Rory Budina, Srdan Majkic, Declan Williams, Ian Newbury; Will Kelly, Owain Leonard; Taylor Hansen, Zac Hewlett, Scott Hoskins, Todd James, Tom Lampard, Joe Thomas, Chris Johnsey, Garin Price
Reps: Connah Vaughan, Richard Cornock, Scott Evans, Izaak Duffy, Joe Carlin, Ben Snell, Morgan Evans, Josh Adams