"EDITORIAL"
"by Roger Panting"
"Newport (8th) v Dunvant (9th), Treorchy (10th) v Ebbw Vale (7th) . . . vital figures today as the four sides seek victories in their quest for a top eight finish in the Welsh League. Neither Ebbw Vale nor Newport were in action last weekend but Dunvant will have been bitterly disappointed to lose 19-25 at home to Treorchy. Treorchy thoroughly deserved their win and Dunvant will have been most concerned at the lack of fire in their performance. It was a game they would have expected to win after wins over local rivals Neath and Swansea. Treorchy seem to be improving with further former Rugby league internationals Rowland Phillips and Kevin Ellis leading the revival and it would be no surprise if they took advantage of today's home game with a victory to close the gap on the teams above them. Newport's star also seems to be in the ascendancy with a backs-to-the-wall victory over Neath in the last league game AND a morale boosting success in a friendly at Old Deer Park, Gareth Curtis, celebrating his selection for the Probables in the Welsh Youth Trial with nine points. On the personnel front, full back Mark Cox has been released by the club to join Newbridge. Unfortunately his presence, together with that of Mark Rossiter and Adrian Gregory, did not see a reversal in Newbridge's fortunes as they crashed to a 76-0 defeat in an Anglo-Welsh game at Gloucester. Former Saracens hooker Peter Bennett has also been released by the club. On the injury list flanker David Gray is absent until the new year as he is set for surgery on a groin injury, but Vince Davies is back in training after summer surgery to have a disc removed from his back."
"On a wider sphere what of our national sides' performances this season? Is Kevin Bowring making progress? Are Wales improving? Wales beat a fully committed France 16-15 to deprive them of the international championship last season. Six months later at the same stadium a fully prepared Wales are defeated 33-40 by the French, who only decide to award caps on the plane over. They fly into Rhoose airport at midday, score 4 tries to Wales 3 and are back in Paris before midnight. In January 1996 Wales lead 31-9 against Italy with 15 minutes remaining; ten months later Italy, losing 22-28 with 15 minutes remaining, are twice controversially denied tries."
"One of the worst Australian teams of recent vintage are leading 18-9 with half-an-hour remaining when stand-in skipper Tim Horan inexplicably declines to accept three points from a point blank kick at goal. Gareth Thomas intercepts and runs in excess of a hundred yards to score one of the great international tries to give Wales false hope before the Wallabies ensure justice is done. Some justice - the visitors were twenty points better."
"In the Autumn of 1999 the World Cup will come to Wales. We prepare for this by recalling a once great 34-year-old at outside half whilst on the same day a fellow great of similar age calls it a day. Jonathan Davies did everything that was asked of him against Australia but is he really the way forward? In October 1994 his blinding pace off the mark resulted in one of the great tries of Rugby League history as Great Britain beat Australia 8-4 at Wembley. The following season,watching him play for Wales in the Rugby League World Cup, it was evident to anyone with a modicum of common sense that his exceptional explosive speed had gone and now he is reduced to giving Tim Horan five yards start in fifteen and having to deliberately impede him to avoid having to concede a score."
"The Welsh Coach persists in picking Derwyn Jones, who must dominate the line-out if he is to be of any value at all. On Sunday, due to the absence of skipper John Eales and line-out ace Warwick Waugh, Australia were forced to include fourth choice David Griffin and No.8 Tim Gavin at lock. Despite this, Derwyn and Gareth Llewellyn win only eight of their fifteen throws. The opposition take 20 from 21. This enabled scrum half George Gregan to being given the ball 49 times to Rob Howley's 28."
"The Welsh back row is also found wanting. One has to question whether Colin Charvis, Kingsley Jones and Martin Williams are of international standard and it must be said that Jonathan Humphries is fortunate to be even in the side ahead of Garin Jenkins, let alone as skipper. Continuing the criticism of Cardiff players, does David Young contribute anything more than Neath's John Davies, whilst Dale Mclntosh and Scott Quinnell deserve consideration but certainly not brother Craig; father Derek would seem a better bet."
"On Sunday, nobody behind the scrum can really be criticised due to the lack of possession. However, Scott Gibbs looks more and more like a barrel every time he is seen and his combination with Gareth Thomas is unlikely to bring dividends as they are too similar players. The threequarter operates more smoothly when Llanelli's Nigel Davies is occupying one of the centre berths as he possesses a quick pair of hands. Wayne Procter is an unlucky player with injuries but should still be retained ahead of Justin Thomas and the promising Kevin Morgan of Pontypridd."
"We repeatedly hear from various home coaches that the Northern Hemisphere countries must compete with their Southern counterparts. On the evidence of this Autumn we are further behind than ever. A poor Australian side have beaten three nations in the British Isles, Western Samoa have trounced Ireland by forty points, Scotland couldn't manage a victory over the Barbarians, France were easily defeated in Bordeaux by South Africa and England bore no comparison to the New Zealand Barbarians (minus Jeff Wilson, Zinzan Brooke and Josh Kronfeld). The Welsh selectors must be assisting the English in the choice of their team. How can Chris Sheasby be selected ahead of Dean Richards? Why is Andy Gomersall preferred to Matt Dawson or Kyran Bracken? And worse still, what possessed them to break up a world class centre pairing of Guscott and Carling to include the decidely ordinary Phil de Glanville who, at his best, would not be fit to lace their boots? More agony to come for the Northerners with France and Wales playing South Africa but, on a good day, England may beat Argentina and our insular much heralded five nations championship will soon be upon us when we can happily forget about our superiors, and the likes of de Glanville and Derwyn Jones can revel in their mediocrity."
"RJP"
"SPOTLIGHT ON ... DUNVANT R.F.C."
"Dunvant, a village between Swansea and Llanelli, are one of the success stories of the modern league system. They were Division 3 Champions in 1990-91 and two years later won the second division championship to take them into the top flight. They finished 10th in 1993-94, finished 11th and were relegated the following season, but immediately returned by easily winning the second division last season."
"This season they made an impressive start, winning their first four games to be joint top of the table. However, they immediately suffered an 80-0 defeat at Bridgend and a home reverse to Pontypridd. An excellent victory was obtained at Neath, where Paul Thorburn was delighted to score against his former club. Since that highspot the club have been disappointed with their results, losing further home league games to Llanelli and lowly Treorchy and enduring a disappointing European Campaign."
"The next month could be the crux of Dunvant's season as following today's game they face Ebbw Vale (away) and Caerphilly and Newbridge at Broadacre. Points must be collected from these fixtures if they are to survive in the first division."
"Dean Evans, who had a spell at Bridgend, captains the side from full back. Jonathan Dodd, the former Cardiff college player, and Deiniol Evans, recently released by Llanelli, occupy the wing positions, which has resulted in our former player Chris Arnold having few opportunities. Former Neath and Cambridge University blue Matthew McCarthy, also released by Llanelli, has taken the outside half berth from leading points scorer Mark Thomas, who has switched to centre where he is partnering Mark Dunning. Steve Wake continues the former Llanelli connection at scrum half. Former Bridgend and Aberavon star Nigel Spender has been recruited this season at No.8, whilst Mark David and Barbarian Richard Greenwood, injured last week against Treorchy, have been his flankers. Kiwi Steve Dixon and Mike Davies are the locks. Combative Darran Chick has recently been preferred to Mefin Davies as hooker, with Richard Llewellyn and Geraint Jeffries as first choice props."