After winning 39-17 at Pontypool on Saturday, Neath continue to ring the changes for tonight”s visit to Cardiff. Behind the scrum, one centre position has yet to be finalized but Luke Ford and scrum-half Kevin Farrell come back into the starting line-up. Up front, hooker Ashleigh James, the second-row pairing of Euros Evans and Peter Sidoli, and back rowers Mike Collins and Gareth Gravell returning.
Flanker John Bowd, out of action for nearly a year following a knee operation, is again on the replacements’ bench after making a pleasing impact in a 20-minute cameo at Pontypool Park.
“We have had four good away wins at Bedwas, Llandovery, Carmarthen Quins and Pontypool who are all likely to beat other sides especially on their own patch. But it is early days yet and we have some tough challenges ahead, not least this one at Cardiff who will be the best side we’ve played so far.
“Cardiff are always a formidable side and we fully realise that only a top effort will do for us on the night. We don’t take too much notice of their being held to a draw by Cross Keys on Saturday as they had 10 changes from their normal line-up and most of their front-line players, if not all, will return against us.
“Our fans have been tremendous, travelling with us in big numbers throughout our away run. They have had to be patient in the first-half as these sides have taken some breaking down. However, the squad is geared for a big effort and we will be looking to reward our supporters with a big last effort at Cardiff before we open our home programme on Saturday.”
Neath: 15 G.King; 14 K.James, 13 A.N.Other, 12 L.Ford, 11 K.Morgan; 10 A.Thomas (captain), 9 K.Farrell; 1 A.Lott, 2 A.James, 3 M.Jones; 4 E.Evans, 5 P.Sidoli; 6 M.Collins, 8 N.Thomas, 7 G.Gravell
Replacements – R.Smith, G.McCarthy, T.James, A.Littlehales, J.Reeves, N.Edwards, J.Bowd.
