"NEWPORT, our visitors to the Talbot Athletic Ground this afternoon, provide Aberavon with their fifth chance of securing a first home victory in Heineken League Division One. After today's League game, at least the club management team will be given a little breathing space to take stock of the situation, with home friendly matches against South African visitors Griqualand on Thursday, and traditional rivals Northampton a week today. A trip to Tredegar on November 10th will take Aberavon into what could very well turn out to be a make or break re-arranged League game at Maesteg on November 14th. While things are not currently going our way in the Heineken League, the number of talented players in the under-21 side are a source of comfort for the future of the club. The under-21's are unbeaten in four games, with victories over Blaenau (Llanelli) away 52-0 and at home 72-0. They have also beaten Dunvant at home 56-16, and last week the young Wizards defeated a strong Beddau side, home of prop Mark Smith, 20-0. The emerging stars in the side are Taibach flanker Chris Kinsey, BSC full back Andrew Davies, Huw Edwards (like older brother David, a flanker), centre Joe Furnell (Bryncoch), along with two more well known players. Adrian Bucknell, who came on as a substitute for Jonathan Griffiths at Bridgend, has been showing exceptional form in the centre, and the club is glad to welcome back Dafydd Roberts, who played for Penarth last winter after scoring 15 tries for Aberavon in 1990/91. He will make a strong challenge for the League side, especially as Andrew Graham has joined Maesteg."

"The last time we welcomed Newport to the ground was on Sunday, March 24th, 1991, for one of the most exciting League games Aberavon have been involved in. Britain's first live televised club match completed the formality of promotion to Division One for Newport, as they came from behind to win a nine-try thriller, 38-21 in front of 4,000 supporters. One negative aspect for Aberavon was the game introduced our own outside half, Matthew McCarthy, to a wider audience, and it resulted in him joining Neath when Aberavon failed to go up with Newport at the first attempt. Newport, who appointed David Watkins as their team manager this season, are captained by inspirational flanker Glen George. Newport have achieved a 50% success rate this season, with four wins from their eight League fixtures. Wing, Andrew Lewis is Newport's leading League try scorer on six, while Jonathan Westwood has scored 58 League points. They have, however, lost on successive weekends at home to both Pontypridd (17-10) and reigning champions Swansea (44-20)."

"Newport, who defeated Aberavon 39-15 at home in the League on November 10th, 1990, have only won three of their last nineteen games at Aberavon. There have been 34 post-war club matches at the Talbot Athletic Ground, with Aberavon winning 20, Newport 13 and one draw. Home and away, the 69 games have ended Aberavon 25, Newport 38 and six drawn. In addition, four WRU Cup ties have resulted in two wins each - Newport's being achieved in successful semi-final wins over Aberavon in both 1977/78 and 1985/86."

"Tony Poole"