We welcome Bridgend to the Talbot Athletic Ground this afternoon and realise that this will be no push-over as the Ravens have been showing very good form in recent weeks.
As neither club any longer plays against Neath then we have come to accept that this is a local ‘Derby’ match and form goes out of the window for such events.
The earlier match this season at the Brewery Field saw a minute silence for the great Max Wiltshire, who not only skippered Aberavon, from whom he was capped for Wales, but who spent two seasons in mid-career with Bridgend.
I remember chatting on several occasions at UWIC with their coach, the late Leighton Davies, who I thought was unlucky never to be capped. I once said to him that I saw him have his nose broken playing for Maesteg against Bridgend and he replied that he also had it broken playing for Bridgend against Maesteg!!
Watching last Saturday’s match at Swansea was our former captain, prop Andrew Clatworthy, who has lost a lot of weight since his first spell with us.
Andrew, now a detective, played for Swansea in two spells just as he did for the ‘Wizards’. He tactfully would not say which team he was supporting but was in good condition and reminded me that in the Wales-England under-16 match of which I still have the program, he was sent off!
It will be good to see Gareth Harvey here again today after his two tries against Llanelli and I’m sure he will join me in saying who very sorry we were to hear that another good hooker, Christian Richards, had died recently.
Finally, great to see Matthew Jenkins, who now lives in Cardiff, back in rugby after three years of injuries and also good to welcome Simon Rees of Beaufort here as referee. Good to see you both again.