King’s in-form Wizards have Cardiff under their cup spell

Feb 18 2008 by Anthony Woolford, South Wales Echo

Aberavon 30-23 Cardiff

THE clear message coming out of Saturday’s lively cup encounter at the Talbot Athletic Ground was: watch the Wizards, writes Alan Evans.

Having turned their faltering form in the Premiership around in recent weeks and climbed back into the top six, Aberavon are fast becoming the side to beat in the cup campaign.

In successive rounds they have dispatched both of last season’s finalists, Llandovery and Cardiff, and, whatever tomorrow’s quarter-final draw throws up, none of the other clubs left in the competition can afford to take the Wizards lightly.

To his credit, head coach Simon King was keeping his feet firmly on the ground after their latest success against the Blue and Blacks.

Beforehand, he had warned his squad they faced a massive challenge against opponents he described as ‘the form team in the league’.

That may have been overstating the case against a capital city team that has been far from convincing since the turn of the year – but there was no disputing the degree of Aberavon’s dominance on Saturday.

They could afford to waste a gilt-edged try in the opening minute when the otherwise outstanding full-back Richard Carter spilled the ball with the line at his mercy.

And at half-time the teams were still locked at 13-13. But Cardiff had been swimming against the tide, their scrummaging notably underpowered and their more successful lineouts unable to take advantage of Aberavon’s own Achilles heel in that department.

With veteran warhorse Richard Morris setting a sterling example at No.8, the home forwards hunted as a pack and Carter and wing Steve Davies provided a cutting edge among the backs.

Cardiff’s troubles were summed up when, with both props Darren Fenton and Gareth Gunter taken off injured and their only bench replacement being Geraint George on permit from Llantwit Fardre, they failed to take advantage of what was for them the benefit of uncontested scrums in the final quarter.

Ironically, the Wizards only shaded the try count 4-3, though the Blue and Blacks were flattered by a narrow losing margin thanks to a converted try deep in injury time.

By then the home side’s passage into the next round was a foregone conclusion.

“This was a reward for the boys’ work ethic,” said King.

“They tackled their socks off and, when the opportunities came, played some good football.”

“We now have two weeks to prepare for our next Premiership fixture and then we can look forward to the cup quarter-final.”

Aberavon: R Carter (G Hooper 79); S Davies, L Gadd, A Beck, P Bamsey (J Garland); J Davies, C Morgans; N White (M Harris 35-40, 79), C Wells (M Breeze 69), A Edwards (P Breeze 55), I Moore, (capt) (C Gittins 80), A Fowler, D Thomas (S Peters 69), R Morris, C Davies

Tries: S Davies (2), Morgans, C Davies; Cons: J Davies (2); Pens: J Davies (2)

Sin-bin: L Gadd (66), S Davies (85)

Cardiff: R Davies; R Howells, D Ryan (R Jones 55, G Davies 78), T Davies, capt, G Chapman; C Evans, O Ruttley; G Gunter (R James 60), R Johnston, D Fenton (G George 55), J Down (C Stamatakis 69), D Welch, G Lucas (A Powell 55), D McShane, A Whitney (R Pugh 69)

Tries: D Welch, R Davies, R Johnston; Con: C Evans; Pens: C Evans (2)

Sin-bin: G Lucas (35)

Referee: H Watkins (Neath)

echo.sport@mediawales.co.uk