Vale have nothing to lose – Edwards (From South Wales Argus)

Vale have nothing to lose – Edwards

2:30pm Friday 27th January 2012 in Gwent Rugby By Chris Kirwan

THE PRESSURE is off as Division One East leaders Ebbw Vale attempt to pull of a Swalec Cup upset at Newport.

The Steelmen head to Rodney Parade tomorrow (KO 2.30pm) as underdogs despite the Black and Ambers’ league troubles.

Newport have won just five of 18 Premiership games this season while Ebbw have tasted victory 13 times in 15 encounters.

That would lead some to believe that there is little to choose between the sides but the visitors’ head coach has emphasised the gulf between the divisions.

Neil Edwards made 26 appearances for the Black and Ambers and packed down with current Newport forwards Andrew Brown, Dai Pattison and Sam Waldron.

The former lock is now plotting their downfall and says it won’t be down to a lack of effort if the Steelmen fail to make it into round three.

“We know that it is going to be tough but we will throw the kitchen sink at them,” he said.

“There’s no pressure on us at all we have absolutely nothing to lose. They might be near the bottom of the Premiership but they are still a quality side.

“I know Sven Cronk and Jon Bryant and they will have their boys fired up for this but as a coach I’d rather be in my position where nothing is expected of us.

“In some ways I’d rather just keep playing league rugby and concentrate on the division but this gives the boys a great opportunity to play at a top ground.

“We don’t head there with the expectation of us getting another win and it is a great chance to measure ourselves against a Premiership side.

“A few of our players have gone down to Newport recently so I suppose we are the little brother, but that doesn’t mean we can’t give big brother a bit of a scare.”