KEV KICKS OFF
FIRSTLY I would like to wish all the Gazette readers a Happy New Year for 2017.
The Scarlets just deserved the win over the Blues at Parc y Scarlets. They created two superb tries and their pack of forwards worked hard. The Blues looked dangerous in attack at times. Both teams have got massive games coming up. The Blues travel to Glasgow and Scarlets are home to Ulster this weekend. Good luck to them.
The Ospreys beat the Dragons 10-0 at Rodney Parade in atrocious conditions. The win moves them up to second place, just two points behind Munster. If I had paid to watch that I would have asked for my money back. I think because it was on live TV the referee said it was playable. Lots of people criticised the decision and even the Ospreys coaches wanted the game called off. The playing surface was shocking, with pools of water everywhere. The Rodney Parade pitch is getting hammered with Newport Gwent Dragons, Newport RFC and Newport County all using it. Dan Biggar and the Ospreys played the conditions the best and deserved the win.
It’s fantastic news to see Rhys Webb is not far away from playing and is looking to go up against Newcastle Falcons in a few weeks. That’s great news for the Ospreys and Wales as he was massively missed during the autumn games and the timing is just right with the Six Nations coming up and that Lions tour to NZ in the summer. I know they are Webby’s goals, so fingers crossed we see him soon.
It hasn’t been a good Christmas for the Ravens, losing to bottom team Bargoed on Boxing Day and getting hammered by Aberavon at the Brewery Field on New Year’s Eve. This week they face another hard game down in Carmathen Quins. Let’s hope they can improve in 2017 and climb up the table. It looks like Swansea or Bargoed will finish bottom. They are lucky that there’s no relegation, which I disagree with, as Pontypool are running away in the Championship and they’ve got to stay there for another two years which is ridiculous.
I see Swansea City have agreed to sign Paul Clement, an assistant at Bayern Munich, on a two-and-ahalf-year contract. He is Swansea’s third manager of the season, which is embarrassing. I can’t see him keeping Swansea in the Premier League unless he signs five or six quality players, which I doubt he will have money for from the board.
Congratulations to Cardiff City on a fantastic 1-0 win over Aston Villa. They desperately needed that win as they were just above the relegation zone. Let’s hope they keep winning and move up the table.
QUESTION – Do you think the Dragons v Ospreys game should have been called off?
Yes I do. The pitch was shocking and the game was full of mistakes and the skills from both teams were poor. Fans paid a lot of money to watch that game. Even Jonathan Davies, who was doing commentary, couldn’t believe the game was played!