Wednesday, 6 March 2013

Newbridge and Ebbw Vale to lock horns in Swalec Championship

Ebbw Vale will be looking to continue their near-imperious form in the Swalec Championship this evening (March 6) when they travel to Gwent rivals Newbridge.

The slight increase in temperature across south Wales this week seems to have halted, meaning supporters may have to look for warmth in their respective teams’ on-field antics if they make the trip to The Welfare Ground.

The home side will be looking to put the weekend’s reverse against Bonymaen behind them and are gearing up for a tough task.

After impressing in that defeat, Mark Cox is rested and Mike Hutchings comes in at No1 for what will be a tough test for Newbridge’s pack.

Ebbw Vale are still waiting on the fitness of some players following the weekend’s drubbing of Whitland, and have yet to name their side.

The Steelmen have won 15 of their 16 league fixtures this season, scoring 679 points in the process and conceding just 147 (giving an average score of a 42-9 win).

They are just five tries away from crossing 100 times this league season, but they won’t find it that easy against Newbridge tonight, and may have to grind out a win.

Yet they are unbeaten in nine in all competitions since their defeat in Whitland back in October (some seven games have been postponed in that time due to the weather), and won the reverse fixture 37-7 in September, so will be confident.

Newbridge: Ceri Young, Andrew Bevan, Steffan Morgan, Bevan Howells, Duane Dyer, Neil Burnett, Tom Edwards, Mike Hutchings, Rhys Price (captain), Geoff Lewin, Dan Mock, James Collins, Josh Skinner, Dean Gibbs, Andrew Coupe.

Replacements: Mark Cavanagh, Darren Hughes, Gareth Short, Ludo Thomas, Jonny Morris.

Ebbw Vale: TBC

Replacements: TBC

Prediction: Ebbw Vale by 10 points.

0 comments:

Post a Comment