Waters back to boost Newport (From South Wales Argus)

Waters back to boost Newport

6:30am Thursday 14th March 2013 in Gwent Rugby By Iwan Davies

NEWPORT v ABERAVON (Tonight, KO 7.15)

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons flanker Darren Waters is among five changes to a Black and Ambers starting XV hosting Aberavon tonight.

The tough flanker, whose season has been ravaged by injury, is on the openside as Newport look to build on Saturday’s 13-12 home win over Neath.

And the Rodney Parade outfit will also seek to complete their second double in five days. Other changes to last weekend’s starting line-up sees Alan Awcock in at full back, Tom Hancock back at stand off for James Leadbeater, who switches to No 9, Dragons prop Aaron Coundley taking over at loosehead, Andrew Brown playing at hooker and Lance Randall at lock.

Victory over the Wizards would see Newport leapfrog great rivals Cardiff by moving up one place in the Premiership to seventh.

If tonight’s match is anything like the encounter at the Talbot Athletic Ground on the opening day of the season, then the crowd are in for a real treat.

Newport clung on to a 23-20 victory thanks to wing Elliot Frewen’s last gasp converted try. Aberavon’s Craig Evans tried to draw the match in the dying seconds but his penalty attempt sailed wide.

Newport: A Awcock, O Broad, D Robinson, D Franchi, E Frewen, T Hancock, J Leadbeater, A Coundley, A Brown, G Robinson (capt), L Randall, A Frampton, B Lampitt, D Waters, R Coombs. Replacements: D Rogers, J Jeune, D Rosser, C Attwell, A Hewitt, W Hodnett, A Quick, N Williams.