Cardiff RFC return to Super Rygbi Cymru action this Saturday as they travel to the Talbot Athletic Ground to take on Aberavon RFC (KO: 2:30pm).
After a dominant performance last timeout for Dan Fish’s men where the Blue and Blacks put aside Llandovery 52-19 to pick up their first victory at Church Bank since April 2022. Tries from Matty Young, Joe Goodchild and Joe Williams were accompanied by Dewi Cross and Osian Darwin-Lewis, who scored a brace saw Cardiff overtake Ebbw Vale to regain pole position after a six-point bonus point win.
The Blue and Blacks have four games remaining to secure themselves a home game in the playoffs. In those four games, only one will be at the Cardiff Arms Park and defence coach, Craig Everett has said on the last games: “We are going to approach it as every game is a final.”
Team News:
1. Jared Williams
2. Alun Rees
3. Tom Harper
4. Mackenzie Martin
5. Sean Moore- (c)
6. Aled Ward
7. Nathan Hudd
8. Lucas de la Rua
9. Joe Williams
10. Harri Wilde
11. Dewi Cross
12. Steffan Emanuel
13. Elijah Evans
14. Joe Goodchild
15. Matty Young
Replacements:
16. Gavin Parry
17. Christian Brooke
18. Connor Donoghue-Proud
19. Ethan Phillips
20. Benji Williams
21. Fraser Jones
22. Osian Darwin-Lewis
23. Jason Harries
Pre-Match thoughts:
Ahead of Saturday’s encounter head coach, Dan Fish said: “The break came at the wrong time for us really after the good performance we had against Llandovery.
“Good to welcome the 20s boys back after a successful 6 nations campaign. We know we got a big block of games coming up which will have a big impact on the play offs.
“We have worked hard over the break to ensure we are ready for the challenge of Aberavon this weekend. We played each other a couple of weeks ago in the Cup, so we know what to expect from them and we are going to make sure we put a performance together come Saturday.”
Remember the last meeting away to Aberavon?
Saturday’s meeting will almost be exactly a year since the Blue and Blacks last visit to the Talbot Athletic Ground. That day saw Cardiff pick up their first away win at Aberavon since 2018.
Winger, Dewi Cross scored a brace as both Alun Rees and Arron Pinches also crossed the whitewash as they came from 13-0 to earn a hard fought 28-13 bonus point win.
Head-to-Head:
Historically, previous meetings between the two have been in favour of the Blue and Blacks. The pair have already met twice this season in both the SRC and in the Cup. The last SRC meeting was back in October last year, where Dewi Cross who played his 50th game was one of five try scorers that day.
Ethan Phillips, Harri Wilde, Alun Rees and Jason Harries all crossed as they overturned a 14-0 deficit to win at the Cardiff Arms Park.
Whereas earlier this month in the Cup, Alun Rees bagged a brace with Joe Goodchild and Fraser Jones accompanied by the boot of Josh Thomas helped Cardiff to an impressive 31-24 triumph.
For those unable to make it to Talbot Athletic Ground on Saturday can stay updated via social media channels (X, Facebook, Instagram).