PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP PREVIEW

Welsh Rugby Union | Club & Community Published 10:28 am 16th Sep 2005 post

The Black and Ambers beat Swansea 26-19 last weekend and avoiding defeat on Saturday will make it 33 games unbeaten – a record that stretches back over the last two Welsh Premiership seasons. The Quins visit Rodney Parade on the back of a narrow 6-3 victory over Pontypool and though they will hope for an improved performance against Newport, the home side look set to continue their march into the record books.

Glamorgan Wanderers travel to Neath still looking for their first win in the top flight but the defending champions will have a point to prove after crashing to a first defeat of the season last weekend. The All Blacks were stunned by Pontypridd at Sardis Road on Saturday whilst the Wanderers were beaten by a rampant Bridgend side. Neath will aim to get back to winning ways against the Wanderers and the All Blacks may prove too strong for a team struggling to find thge winning habit.

Aberavon host Bedwas at the Talbot Athletic Ground in what promises to be one of the days closest games. Andrew James kicked a match-winning 19 points as Bedwas beat Maesteg last weekend whilst the Wizards inflicted a 42-20 defeat on Cardiff.

Pontypridd travel to Maesteg on the back of a confidence-boosting win over the defending champions and are likely to inflict a third successive defeat on the Old Parish.

Cardiff welcome Bridgend in a local derby and will hope they can kick-start their season after a miserable start compounded by a defeat to Aberavon on Saturday. But the Ravens are flying high thanks in no small part to full-back Gareth David who bagged 27 points in last weekend’s victory over Glamorgan Wanderers.

Cross Keys will hope to build on their 43-0 thrashing of Llandovery when Llanelli visit Pandy Park on Saturday. The Scarlets cruised past Ebbw Vale at Stradey Park last weekend and will hope they can emulate their home form on the road.

Swansea will be aiming to erase the memories of a defeat at Newport when they go head to head with an Ebbw Vale side that also lost last weekend. The St Helens clash promises to be another of the days close games as Swansea are still not showing the strength of last season whilst Ebbw Vale do not travel well.

Llandovery and Pontypool both have points to prove when they meet at Pontypool Park on Saturday. Both teams suffered disappointing defeats last weekend and will both feel they can come away from this tie with a victory.