Action Replay (Swansea Programme Notes)

Mid-term (well… almost) Review
by Paul Williams

A brief look back at the season thus far

August:
A trio of pre-season friendlies saw the Wizards emerge victorious in visits to Reading Rams (24-38), Bedwas (26-33) and at home to Carmarthen Quins (13-12).

September:
For the second successive season the Wizards’ opening SRC fixture was the tough trip to Ebbw Vale, with the home side winning 36-17. A week later, however, reigning champions Newport arrived at the Talbot Athletic Ground only to find the Wizards in fine form as they edged out the visitors 28-24. That was followed by a Thursday night trip to Bridgend for a thriller in which the lead changed hands time and time again until Aberavon skipper Joe Gage raced onto a pass from Owen Erasmus to weave his way through a bewildered defence to level the scores at 35-35 before Erasmus added the conversion to claim victory.

October:
Something of a mixed bag – Bridgend avenged their home defeat by winning 26-36 at the Talbot Athletic Ground, and yet another visit to Cardiff ended in the disappointment of a 26-45 defeat. Things did, however, improve considerably with RGC 1404 defeated 45-35 at the Talbot Athletic Ground and some high drama on a rain-swept Pontypool Park as the Wizards clawed their way back from a 0-19 deficit late in the first half to 24-all with time rapidly running out. Keillen Cullen turned things around when he fielded a kick deep inside the Aberavon half and produced an absolute gem of a 50-22 touchfinder that gave the Wizards the throw in to a lineout deep inside the home ‘22’. The Pontypool defence wandered offside at the subsequent set-piece, and Cullen stepped up to claim the win 27-24 with the last kick of the match.

November:
Not a great month, with a rapidly growing injury list and defeats at home to Carmarthen Quins (28-19) and away to Llandovery (30-14).

December:
Home defeat to league leaders Ebbw Vale (45-24) and that trip to Newport that is simply best forgotten.