Hanno Dirksen signs on for another two years

Posted on May 17, 2012 in Ospreys

The Ospreys have announced that they have secured the services of young winger and crowd favourite, Hanno Dirksen for another two years, contracting him until the end of the 2013/14 season.

The 21-year old has been a huge success for the Ospreys this season, scoring eight tries in 24 appearances, including the RaboDirect PRO12 Try of the Season against Edinburgh at Murrayfield in February.

Dirksen commented:

“I’m very happy. The Ospreys are the best team in Wales and I’m really happy to be a part of the organisation. I feel at home here, everybody has made very welcome and this is my region so I’m happy that I can continue playing for the Ospreys.

“I’ve been given some chances this season and I think I’ve taken them the best I can. It’s great to be playing and training with top class players, Wales internationals and Lions, it’s been an absolutely amazing year for me. It’s nice to be in a squad with so many top class players that I can learn off.

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Davey makes five changes to Doncaster team to take on Swansea

Posted on Dec 16, 2011 in British and Irish Cup, Doncaster, English Rugby

Brett Davey has named five changes to his British and Irish Cup team to take on Swansea at Castle Park this Saturday.

The match sees several regular starters rested, although the DOR admits with the lack of squad numbers the Knights will always put out a strong side and gives different players the chance to stake a claim for a starting jersey.

Doncaster have suffered some untimely injuries, but Davey see’s the competition as a massive opportunity for his side to claim for further silverware.

“I’d love to give our captain Chris Hallam a rest, but we have no other scrum-half. We emphasise impact from the bench and we have picked replacements who can change the game to give us a shot at the knockout stages.”

The side includes two players recently returned from loan spells, and Davey believes prop Royce Burke-Flynn and winger Michael Bateman have both come back stronger players.

“Royce has proven himself in recent weeks and there is strong competition between him and Alex Brown at tight-head now. Bateman’s loan was good for him – he scored a few tries for Hull Ionians and he’s more confident now. The game-time has made a difference for both of them.”

The Knights’ chances of progressing to the knock-out stages of the Cup depend on them claiming victory over Swansea and other results going their way – and Davey has assured supporters that his team will be playing for a bonus point to maximise their chances.

The DOR remains positive about the injury crisis at Castle Park, and with several senior players due to return soon the squad’s problems look to be easing.

“We’ve got a few players starting to return in the next 2/3 weeks. I’ve always said that we need to keep our main group of players fit until the start of the play-offs – then we’ll be up there with the top sides.”

Knights v Swansea

15 Dougie Flockhart

14 Ben Toft

13 Oli Goss

12 Fred Burdon

11 Michael Bateman

10 David McIlwaine

9 Chris Hallam ©

1 Tom Davies

2 Jack Yeandle

3 Royce Burke-Flynn

4 Glen Kenworthy

5 Dominic Parsons

6 Andy Boyde

7 David Bradford

8 Michael Noone

16 Andy Brown

17 Steve Boden

18 Sam Cooke

19 Chris Planchant

20 Zack Farivarz

21 Latu Makaafi

22 Michael Keating

B&I Cup: Neath RFC Team News

Posted on Dec 9, 2011 in British and Irish Cup

It’s back to the British & Irish Cup this week and for Neath it’s an all-Welsh tie at Pandy Park against Cross Keys (kick off 2.30pm).

Neath make 4 changes from the side that defeated Swansea so stylishly 21-6 last week with wing David Evans, centre Nathan Brew and props Nicky Downs and Tom Price come into the starting line up.

Neath coach Patrick Horgan was pleased with his side’s effort against Swansea saying, “On a filthy night, we battled really hard for everything, played with great purpose throughout and were a little unlucky not to get the bonus point.

“The result took us top of the Premiership but we don’t expect to be there long as Llandovery are not in the British & Irish Cup and have a home game against Pontypool which they will be favoured to win.

“Cross Keys will be a very different order from Swansea. They are an abrasive, combative side up front with a good set-piece and real quality behind where Mark Ring is getting them to play in his own image.

“They have been making confident noises – they’re a good club and don’t depend too much on regional imports although they have been fortunate to have both Stefan and Matthew Jones, our former outside-half, turning out for them. It will be another test of our resolve.”

Neath v Cross Keys (Away)
A.Jenkins; K.James, N.Brew, G.McCarthy, D.Evans; D.Langdon, C.Morgans; N.Downs, R.Clancy, T.Price; E.Evans, J.Griffiths; L.Evans, A.Powell, G.Gravell (captain)
Replacements : O.Ford, A.Littlehales, J.Reeves, L.Ward, J.Davies, A.Bramwell, T.Barry

Next Fixtures
Sat December 17 Plymouth Albion Home 2.30pm B&I
Mon December 26 Aberavon Home 4.00pm PP

Bester experiments for Swansea

Posted on Nov 11, 2011 in British and Irish Cup, English Rugby, Rotherham Titans

Titans head coach Andre Bester has named an experimental side for their visit to Swansea in the British & Irish Cup on Saturday.

Nevertheless, 16 of the match day squad have played Championship rugby this season. One notable starter is new recruit from Glasgow Warriors Dave McCall. While on the bench and expected to play some part in the game is Jan-Francois Bester.

Bester (Snr) views the Swansea game as a vital exercise in his planning and development of his squad, he explained, “The game gives us the opportunity to give player’s game time and us the opportunity to experiment with certain players in different positions.

“We have a number of experimental positions in the team and it’s important to build our strengths so if we get injuries, we have players that can come in and perform in the Championship. We have brought Byron Godfrey to scrum half; we’ve brought Peter Homan in at inside centre, where in fact he’s played most of his rugby. We have new signing Dave McCall starting at 13 and we are looking forward to see what he can bring to Rotherham. And we are giving Elliott Brierley a run out on the wing.

“We are trying to put pressure on certain players and pressure will make the whole squad perform better. Our main aim is to reach the promotion play-offs and then make sure we have a squad ready to compete at the business end of the season.

“We don’t know too much about Swansea, but the one thing we do know is that the Welsh like to ‘beat-up’ English sides. I expect their scrum to be strong and very physical and there’s not a Welsh side out there that will do you any favours and we don’t expect them to.”

Titans: 15 Stephen Hamilton, 14 Elliott Brierley, 13 Dave McCall, 12 Peter Homan, 11 Jon McMahon, 10 Cliffie Hodgson, 9 Byron Godfrey, 1 Ben Harris, 2 Ross White, 3 Rikki Stout, 4 Ross Noonan, 5 Barney Maddison, 6 Sam Dickinson (Capt.), 7 Carl Kirwan, 8 Ben Wade.

Replacements: Ted Stagg, Shane Cahill, Jamie Kilbane, Adrian Griffiths, Jan-Francois Bester, Matt Rhodes, Ed Tellwright.

Swansea: 15 Barry Davies, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Lewis Chance, 12 Nick Harwood, 11 Jackson Szabo, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Matthew Torrance, 1 Jamie Kayjaks, 2 Alun Rees, 3 Jo Rees, 4 Jack Jones (Capt.), 5 Richard Kelly, 6 David Blyth, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Dan Baker.

Replacements: Tomas Owen, Craig Cross, Andrew Gwynne, Ben Davies, Scott Gibson, Nico Setaro, Nicky Thomas

SWALEC Cup, Plate and Bowl Semi-final draws

Posted on Mar 28, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Llandovery are eying a second SWALEC Cup trophy in four years after being matched to face Aberavon in the semi-finals.

The Drovers still look back on their 2007 success over Cardiff with huge pride but must first resist the powerful challenge of Aberavon on the weekend of April 9.

The Wizards have already recorded a league double over Llandovery this season and look set for a top five finish in the Premier Division while Llandovery have struggled for most of the league term and lie just one place off the bottom.

Outside-half Cerith Rees was the star of the Drovers 23-13 quarter-final win at Tonmawr with a try, two conversions and three penalties.

The Wizards survived a late rally from Cardiff to edge home 19-17 at the Arms Park with Chris Lewis crossing for a brace and Matthew Jarvis slotting home three penalties. Little surprise then that Aberavon captain Chris Davies believes all is well with the Wizards.

"It’s my fourth season at the club and the third cup semi-final which is excellent. All the players and coaches are determined to go one step further and get to the final this year and it was that determination which helped us overcome Cardiff," said flanker Davies.

"We are pleased with the draw but would have taken anyone as you have to beat these sides to win the Cup anyway. Llandovery are a top side and I am sure they will be up for the occasion."

Pontypridd have contested three of the last six finals but to make it to the Millennium Stadium once more they must prevent a Swansea outfit determined to make their first appearance in the showpiece event in 11 years.

Under the guidance of club stallwart and cup veteran Dale McInotsh, Ponty are on course for an historic treble.

They survived a scare against Merthyr in the last round but have booked a place in the last four of the British & Irish Cup and have already registered a 39-28 victory at St Helen’s to top the Principality Premiership.

They were made to work hard by SWALEC One East side Merthyr in the quarter-final before recording a 38-30 success thanks to tries from Matthew Nuttall (2), Dean Gunter and former Wales international Gareth Wyatt.

"It was a great match against two valley sides and to a certain extent it was Merthyr’s cup final," said Pontypridd flanker Ed Siggery.

"We didn’t deserve to win and could have slipped up but we came through in the end.

"We are still looking to win all three of our competitions but everyone wants to win this one now and as I won the SWALEC Cup last season with Llanelli, I would love to be on the winning side again."

Swansea’s last appearance in the final was in 2000, when they were beaten by Llanelli, but they over-turned a half-time deficit to pip Newport 39-34 in their semi-final on Saturday.

However it took a last-minute try and conversion from James Dixon to knock the Black and Ambers out of the competition.

"I couldn’t be happier with the draw," said Swansea head coach Richard Webster.

"It’s going to be tough but if we are going to win the Cup we have to beat the best sides, and with the Premiership title out of our reach we are determined to win the SWALEC Cup this year."

SWALEC Cup Semi-final draw

Llandovery v Aberavon

Pontypridd v Swansea (6.30pm, Saturday 9 April)

Ties to be played on weekend of 9 April at neutral venues

SWALEC Plate

Ammanford of SWALEC Two West will be full of confidence when they play Three West’s Gorseinon on the back of their 87-point routing of 2009 Plate finalists Risca in the quarter-final.

No 8 Chris Jones led the way with a try hat-trick of tries and there were two apiece for centres Matthew Brayley and Tom Rees as well as John Ogden.

Gorseinon accounted for Two East outfit Tylorstown 37-22 so they will have no fears about taking on another side from a division above.

Andrew Steel, Josh John, Rhys Carney and Nicholas Southgate all crossed while Andrew Colwill landed three conversions and three penalties.

Tondu of Two West emphatically saw off Division Three outfit Pontypool United 76-15 to earn a semi-final tie against Glynneath.

Paul Smithson and Joe Heatley both crossed twice as the Waterwheelers went over the visitors line on ten occasions.

Full-back Dean Thomas scored a try, seven conversions and two penalties for a personal tally of 25 points.

Three South West’s Glynneath always had the edge over Aberdare of Three South East and ran out comfortable 31-13 winners. Scrum half James Pike went over twice while outside half Jack O’Reilly touched down and converted three tries.

SWALEC Plate Semi-final draw

Gorseinon v Ammanford

Tondu v Glynneath

Ties to be played on weekend of 9 April at neutral venues

SWALEC Bowl

SWALEC Four East’s Senghenydd are determined to go one better than last season and a crushing 69-10 success against Monmouth of Five East sets them up with a semi-final tie against Vardre of Four South West.

Scrum half Alun Ford led the way for the winners at the Welfare Ground with two tries, seven conversions and a penalty to total 27 points.

The tie was all over by the interval with the home side leading 31-5 but the visitors put up plucky resistance.

On the other hand, Vardre were made to work very hard to overcome Districts outfit Cardiff Medicals who had already dispatched five league sides on their way to the quarter-finals.

Liam Garland kicked three penalties and converted a penalty try for Vardre to secure a nail-biting 16-14 victory over the students.

Maesteg Quins scored four unanswered tries in their 27-15 win at Four South East outfit Tonyrefail and will face Porth, another side from that division in the semi-final.

Wing Ryan Lovett crossed twice for Quins while Dean Ronan and Robbie Morris also crossed. All Tonyrefail had to show for their efforts were five penalties from outside half Matthew Cook.

Porth provided the shock of the day with a 13-6 victory at high-flying Amman United. The Four South West side restricted the Cwmamman Park fifteen to two penalties and went through to the semi-final by scoring the game’s only try and adding a conversion and two penalties.

SWALEC Bowl

Maesteg Quins v Porth

Vardre v Senghenydd

Ties to be played weekend of 9 April at neutral venues