Bramwell to start at 10 (From South Wales Argus)

Bramwell to start at 10

12:05pm Friday 21st September 2007

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EBBW Vale head coach Pat Horgan was delighted with Aaron Bramwell's display at full back in a friendly at Cross Keys last week but will once again be handing the exciting back the number 10 shirt for the clash with Bridgend this Saturday.

In all likelihood there would be no debate about who would slot in at fly half had pivot Dai Langdon not fractured his knee cap in pre-season.

But instead versatile Bramwell, who signed on at Eugene Cross Park from Neath in the summer, will be the playmaker against the Ravens.

The 21-year-old played in the full back position where he has played most of his rugby at Pandy Park last Friday, but it is back to 10 this weekend due to the sheer strength in depth Horgan has at his disposal.

Andrew McLaughlan was one of the stars of the Steelmen's charge to second place last season and dropping him isn't an option for the head coach.

He said: "Aaron played well at full back but if we played him there then we would have to move Macca, who I think would be in the first 15 for a Premiership select side.

"Aaron wouldn't be far off that himself but we are lucky to have a versatile player like him and I feel he adds so much to our game.

"He is a great player to work with and really doesn't mind where you play him, he just wants to get on with his rugby and give it a real crack. He really wants regional representation with the Dragons and I think if he keeps performing in the Premiership he deserves that."

Vale will be without experienced lock Neil Edwards for the meeting with Bridgend after he was slapped with a four-week ban after being sent off for kicking in the league opener with Swansea.

But while Horgan admitted it is a blow to lose a player of Edwards' stature, he believes they are far better prepared to cope with it this term with the likes of Will Thomas and Will Jones ready to step in.

And after some fine-tuning against Cross Keys he believes the prospects remain good for the season as they bid for their first win of the campaign.

"The game served its purpose and gave bodies a run," he said. "But I still think there were some players on both sides who didn't really want to be there on a Friday night.

"We competed well and are still creating chances - we just need to be a bit more clinical. We know that we need to start winning and winning well, but I don't think there is any pressure on us.

"It is taking some time to come together but the crucial thing is that we are creating the chances - at times last season we weren't doing that which is a bigger worry for a coach."

Vale are yet to name a replacement back row forward on their bench as Nio Aiono is in Samoa and Rhys Williams is injured.

Ebbw Vale: A McLaughlan, S Hunt, J Lewis, R Watts, J Williams, A Bramwell, B Shelbourne, A Lott, M Williams, A Lyon, W Jones, W Thomas, G Donaldson, J McPhail, J Bowd. Replacements: M Jones, C Thomas, R Dicks, R Lewis, J Howells, K Owen, AN Other.

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