Croesyceiliog V Abercynon
28 January 2006
The Cockerels face another tough game with the visit of highflying Abercynon who will be brimmimg with confidence after beating league leaders Bargoed 45-23 last week and narrowly losing to Premier Division side Glamorgan Wanderers in the cup the week before.
The Croesy pack is disrupted by injuries with loose-head prop Peter Douglas-Davies unfortunately picking up a rib injury in the last minutes of the Pill game last week after making a highly impressive first appearance in this position. This allows Marc Watkins to step back in although he has also been struggling to train fully this week. Also out is blind-side flanker Larry Williams but the good news is that Bobby Pike has recovered from the knock that forced him off against Pill which means that he will take up his position on the open-side allowing Paul Hicks to move across to his favoured position on the blind-side. Gareth Cowans retains his place at hooker after an excellent game last week despite the return of Anthony Axford who starts on the bench.
Behind the scrum, Ritchie Williams replaces Nathan Powell, with the only other change seeing a welcome return for centre Scott Copsey who has been out with a knee injury for over two months. Copsey replaces David Davies who is rested this week after struggling with a back injury which forced him to leave the field last week.
The full side is: 1. M Watkins; 2. G Cowans; 3. J Smith; 4. L Williams; 5. R Gibbins; 6. P Hicks; 7. B Pike; 8. C Saunders (Capt); 9. R Williams; 10. C Landry; 11. R Davies; 12. M Entwistle; 13. S Copsey; 14. M Hiatt; 15. G Roberts.
Subs from: 16. N Powell; 17. S Fitzgerald; 18. J Nash; 19. J Sargent; 20. A Axford
All players meet at club at 12.30 prompt.