Niko Matawalu in action for Fiji. Pic: Getty Images.

Forget Fiji v Tonga, Niko Matawalu Can’t Wait For Ponty’s Derby With Merthyr

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By Gareth James

Niko Matawalu has played in some bone-shuddering derbies – Fiji v Tonga, Fiji v Samoa, Glasgow v Edinburgh, and Montauban v Colomiers in France.

But he’ll have a new version to add to his list by Saturday night when the Fijian international plays for his current club, Pontypridd, at home to Merthyr.

It might not have the sunshine of his South Seas battles, or the media attention claimed by the big city Scottish clash, but the Valleys dust-up in the Indigo Premiership on Saturday is unlikely to leave Matawalu with fewer bruises – provided Merthyr can catch him, that is.

“It is a local derby; they are always tough,” says the 33-year-old scrum-half or wing who joined Ponty in the Indigo Premiership transfer coup of the year in the summer.

“We know they are an excellent side. We will have to be disciplined and we will have to work hard if we want anything from the game. We need to start well and hopefully we can build from there.”

It has not been quite the smooth sailing Matawalu might have imagined since he moved from French rugby to Sardis Road.

 

Ponty are currently down in eighth place in the Premiership table, with just two victories from six matches played.

Merthyr will be favourites when the clubs – just 12 miles apart along the A470 – clash, thanks to the impressive start to the season by the Ironmen.

They have won four of their six games played and are still within striking distance of the top three – Aberavon, Cardiff and Llandovery.

Ponty are also coming off a recent home defeat to Llanelli, when they were edged out, 31-29.

But Matawalu insists: “It is good that we can get back out there this week, we can implement the changes quickly.

“They boys are playing some good rugby, but we have struggled to keep that intensity for the entire 80 minutes, so we need to be more consistent.

“We need to be patient; we have to stick to our jobs and keep doing them as well as possible.

 

“We are confident as a group that the things we are working on will come together. You know rugby sometimes you are on a high and sometimes you are struggling, that’s rugby. But our discipline has been letting us down.”

The weekend’s action in the Indigo Premiership is spread across three days with Llanelli kicking things off at home to Llandovery on Thursday night.

Llandovery’s impressive start to the season continued as they thrashed Llanelli 54-21 at Parc y Scarlets.

“We really targeted this game and it was nice to come down to Llanelli and get a big win,” said Llandovery number 10 Jack Maynard.

“But we want to start looking up the table and targeting big teams like Cardiff.

“We were unlucky when we played them two weeks ago but we’ve got some very good players in our squad and we are backing ourselves this season. Over the last few seasons we have been up near the top but have always come up just short.”

On Friday night, the focus switched to leaders Aberavon, who were at home to fifth-placed Ebbw Vale.

 

Ebbw Vale turned around a 12-0 deficit early in the second half, and held on to record a brilliant 24-17 victory against the league leaders.

But the game was marred with fighting towards the end of both halves, which ruined a brilliant spectacle of Friday night rugby.

Early on, Aberavon eventually broke the deadlock with a scintillating try from young scrum half Liam Seaward, who showed great pace to finish his opportunity well.

Against the run of play, the Wizards grabbed the game’s next score. After stealing a lineout, Sam Williams went on a rampaging run and found Seaward, who finished the counter attack off with a wonderful burst of pace.

For all of their endeavour, Ebbw Vale found themselves 12-0 down. But the Steelmen turned the game on its head with two quick tries from Lewis Young and Evan Lloyd, either side of half time.

Aberavon looked all at sea, following several injury replacements. And Ebbw Vale capitalised when Gethin Williams found his way over the line in the corner.

Aberavon pushed for a losing bonus point. But Lloyd added a penalty, edging the visitors two scores ahead.  There were some unsavoury scenes when fighting which broke out towards the final whistle. Three red cards were produced, before Andrew Waite scored for Aberavon.

 

But the Steelmen held on for a huge win on the road.

The derby feel of the weekend continues on Saturday when Bridgend host Cardiff, a fixture that used to be one of the home club’s biggest pay-days of the year when it came to bar takings in the clubhouse.

The beer count may be down on those days, but the rivalry will be just as intense as the Ravens bid to overturn the form book, which currently sees them rock bottom of the table.

Cardiff, meanwhile, are up in second and are the only club in the Premiership who remain unbeaten.

Also on Saturday, Carmarthen Quins – just a place above Bridgend – host Newport, who are only third from bottom themselves.

But Newport will be firm favourites, having finally found their form with that convincing recent win over Aberavon.

Finally, Swansea receive a visit from RGC to St.Helen’s, with the All Whites and the north Walians both in mid-table.

RGC might be the punter’s choice, having beaten Bridgend in their last game, while Swansea were beaten by Ebbw.

 

12 November, 2022

 

Bridgend v Cardiff (13.00)

 

Carmarthen Quins v Newport

 

Pontypridd v Merthyr

 

Swansea v RGC

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