Ebbw Vale ended their first season back in the Premiership as second placed team, earning them home advantage against third placed Keys in the play-off for a place in next week’s Principality Premiership Final against Pontypridd.
Keys beat Carmarthen Quins 31-20 away from home in last year’s Play-Off semi-final but were second best at Sardis Road in the final, losing 38-17 to Pontypridd. Woods says his team are keen to go one step further and take home some silverware this time around.
Head coach of Cross Keys Greg Woods commented: “It’s a huge day for Gwent rugby.
“Ebbw Vale have been the real success story of the Premiership this season and fully deserve to be second. They have been excellent and their forward pack has been dominant across the league. We’ve got a good pack of forwards too so that will definitely be a key battle in who comes out on top on the day.
“We’ve each won our away match this season, so we’ve got to take confidence from that.
“Ebbw will be well supported by a fanatical crowd but the trains will be full from Cross Keys up the valley to Ebbw Vale on Saturday so hopefully there'll be a decent black and white contingent making some noise for us on the terraces too. We’ll be looking to pull on the experience of the players and our captain to get us across the line and book a place in the final.”
He continued: “It’s great we are showing enough consistency to be competing for trophies in consecutive seasons at the business end of the season. However, it’s certainly a case of unfinished business. We’ve reached the semis of the Cup and League again so we just need to give it a final push towards the finish line now.
Head Coach of Ebbw Vale Jason Strange insists the Sardis Road team must not be overwhelmed by the occasion and stick to the principles that have served them well so far this season. He commented: “It’s been another terrific season for us, we are so pleased for the players and supporters, it’s the culmination of five years of hard work.
“We’ve earned the home game having sustained our place in the top three all season, so hopefully we can take advantage of that on Saturday evening.”
“For us, it’s about continuing to do what we’ve done well all season. We are an attack-minded team and it’s important the players play with a smile on their faces on Saturday. While it’s important for any team to build a good forward platform, we are a well-rounded team and the players know they have the freedom to express themselves.
“We have been playing well recently which has given us confidence, we are one of the best try counts in the league and our defence has really improved too. It’s pleasing we have done this with most of the squad that has eben with us for five years..
“We respect Cross Keys and know it will be a tough challenge, but we certainly have nothing to fear.
“It is all set up to be a great game. It’s fantastic that we have two Gwent teams out of the three still in the hunt for the title. We know what Cross Keys’ strengths and weaknesses are and I’m sure there will be a fine margin between the sides on Saturday. It will come down to who executes best and who deals best with the pressure on the day.”
The Principality Premiership Play-Off (Ebbw Vale v Cross Keys, Eugene Cross Park, Saturday 9 May, 7pm) and the Principality Premiership Final (Sardis Road, Sunday 17 May, 4pm) will both be shown on S4C.
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