‘Time to get back on track’

LLANELLI head coach Paul Fisher has told his side they need to inject some momentum back into their Indigo Group Premiership season ahead of hosting Llandovery tonight.

Since a stunning away win at Merthyr in early December, Llanelli’s form has slumped with Fisher’s side losing their last four league encounters. It has left them just five points off the bottom of the table.

And Fisher believes it is vital they get back to winning ways against west Wales rivals Llandovery, who currently occupy seventh place.

“We had a good run of five games pre-Christmas where we had a little bit of consistency in our selection and our team was performing consistently as a result,” said Fisher.

“The Swansea fixture over the Christmas period was a big disappointment where I felt we let ourselves down, but on the whole I think we have shown a lot of promise this season.

“We have played very well and with the jeopardy in the league there is added pressure. We couldn’t have experienced more pressure than we did last season being in a relegation play-off.

“It is important we get some good results over the next few weeks which will hopefully put momentum back on our side.”

There are just two Premiership fixtures taking place and both are derbies. Llanelli and Llandovery aside, Newport face Gwent rivals Ebbw Vale at Rodney Parade. This is a vital clash for both sides who are desperate to avoid relegation into the WRU Championship.

With Newport in ninth place and the Steelmen just one place off the bottom, dropping down a division is a very realistic proposition for both sides.

Realising his team needs to make improvements and quickly, Ebbw head coach Greg Woods has moved to strengthen his squad in a bid to avoid the drop. Woods has signed wing Aaron Grabham while he has also secured a deal for outside-half Rhys Jones from Merthyr who was previously a key man at Eugene Cross Park.