Familiar foes ready to battle with higher stakes

THEY met at the Talbot Athletic Ground last weekend and today Aberavon and Bedwas will have to do it all over again.

But whereas the previous meeting could have been seen as just a warmup, this time they square off with huge implications on the line, as they battle to decide who will go through to meet Merthyr in the Tier One final in the Principality Premiership.

The Wizards were 28-9 winners last weekend, but it is worth remembering that they could only draw at Bedwas in the first half of the season.

And Steve Law’s side have already picked up the Foster’s Challenge Cup trophy and beaten the other two semi-finalists this season.

Another key factor for the visitors will be the return of goalkicking outside-half Richard Powell for today’s match-up.

And Aberavon head coach Jason Hyatt isn’t taking too much solace from the result from a week ago.

“We can’t afford to read anything into what happened last week,” said Hyatt.

“The stakes are much higher this weekend and it will be a one-off cup tie.

“We have got the momentum and we need to recognise and turn it to our advantage. We have to stick to the style of rugby that got us into this situation – we’ve scored more tries than anyone in the Premiership this season.”

As well as being a potent attacking force, Aberavon also have a pretty mean defence. Last weekend they became the first team to stop Bedwas scoring a try in a Premiership game this season and Hyatt will be hoping for more of the same.