JAMES Hook is ready for an appointment with the "intimidating’’ All Blacks next Saturday when Wales make their latest attempt to end more than half a century of hurt. It is 56 years since Wales last toppled New Zealand, a run of 20 successive defeats
TWO Caldicot mums are raising cash for a cancer hospital where both their fathers have been treated. Sharon Staines and Beverly Barnsfield have raised almost £4,000 for the Velindre hospital in Cardiff. Mrs Staines’ father Desmond Jones
TORY proposals for a 10% cut in the number of MPs would tear up Wales's political map, Welsh Labour leaders said today. First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain accused Conservative leader David Cameron of floating a "half-baked
AMs will need receipts for all their expenses claims from today. They will also lose the right to buy furniture and fittings for their second homes at the taxpayers' expense. The new rules are among recommendations made by the Jones Review into
CALDICOT Town’s turn in the Welsh Cup spotlight proved all too brief at Jubilee Way, where visiting Port Talbot Town cantered into the last 16 as a result of a 3-0 victory. In Division Two of the MacWhirter Welsh League, there was another win for second-placed
With Remembrance Sunday fast approaching, a Newport shop owner has decked her front window out as a shrine to those lost. Tracey Stokes-Whiting, 48, runs the Handpost Florist on Stow Hill, and decided to make a statement because she believed
PROLIFIC try-scoring winger Lenny Woodard is the toast of Newbridge after grabbing the two touchdowns he needed to reach the 150 milestone in SWALEC League games, writes Terry Daley. Woodard is the league’s top try-getter and achieved the feat in the
SHOPPERS in Cwmbran got the chance to do something usually reserved for football's elite yesterday, stand side-by-side with the Premier League trophy. As part of a tour across the UK, the 3ft 5in tall trophy, which weighs four stones, was on show
Ebbw Vale 22 Llandovery 24 THE Steelmen came close to causing a major surprise against the in-form Drovers but in the end had to settle for a losing bonus point. The point takes them three clear of bottom side Pontypool, but more importantly this
POLICE have not yet been able to identify a pedestrian who died after she was struck by a heavy goods lorry on the M4. The woman, who is thought to be in her 30s, died on the westbound carriageway at the Caerleon Road intersection following the collision
Aberavon 20 Newport 27 “AT LAST, our first away win this season,” said a very relieved Newport coach Sven Cronk. And it was very well deserved, with only a knock-on five metres from the home line at 27-13 meaning that a try-bonus was lost, while Aberavon
Cross Keys 20 Bedwas 13 CROSS Keys coach Greg Woods was delighted his side exorcised last week’s demons by beating Bedwas in a hard- fought Hallowe’en derby. Against Glamorgan Wanderers Keys were beaten at the death, but it was their
MORE than 100 varieties of apple, cider, perry and apple juice were tasted at an event in Chepstow yesterday. Visitors to the town’s first Apple Day at the Drill Hall also took part in apple pressing, cider-making demonstrations and competitions
James Chapron and Mike Hook – existing members of Pontypool’s backroom staff – have taken over temporarily as lead coaches following the recent departures of Gareth Lintern and Jared Lougher. The Welsh Premiership table bottom club, still without a win
For a pianist of secure international class, Welshman Llyr Williams does not make himself scarce in the Principality. And that’s our good fortune, the latest slice of which he bestowed in a captivating performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No
Pontypool 10 Carmarthen 40 AFTER putting in a solid first-half performance against fellow league strugglers Carmarthen Quins, Pontypool once again fell foul of their own ill-discipline, crashing to a 40-10 defeat. Pooler have now lost all 10 of their
The SDR is closed both ways this afternoon between Docks Way and Alexandra Road after a lorry shed its load. The vehicle lost some of its load onto the roundabout near the Civic Amenity site. Queueing traffic is reported and police are directing
NEWPORT businesses have been praised for their work with Duffryn Community Link at a special reception with the Prince of Wales. Representatives from the Newport community group and city business leaders visited the Prince’s Llwynywermod residence
A ST JULIANS woman was subjected to her own Halloween horror after finding her hallway alight on Saturday night. Nursery nurse Wendy John, 57, of Burton Road, was left “absolutely petrified” after finding bright orange flames spreading from her letterbox
WE fully support the work of Hafan Cymru, the charity that supports domestic abuse victims. It now helps 26 people at its Ebbw Vale centre in Bethcar Street. The charity has limited funding from the Assembly. It’s such a shame
Wales team to play New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday: J Hook (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues); G Jenkins
HAFAN Cymru provides housing and support to women, men and their children, particularly those escaping domestic abuse, in Wales. It has two centres in Gwent; one in Ebbw Vale and another in Pontypool but is currently trying to set up its first
THE attack on pensioner Bryan Roberts was vile in the extreme. The 65-year-old was smashed in the head with a skateboard and hit when he was on the ground by a group of youths in Cwmbran. Mr Roberts had been going to the aid of a young woman who
RESIDENTS at a Monmouth rest home welcomed an unusual guest when Sebastian the miniature Shetland pony dropped. The nine-year-old pony, who is ambassador for the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies, Monmouth, delivered a card to each of the
MORE THAN 100 campaigners opposing the building of a mountainside wind farm in Blaenau Gwent say the fight to stop it is “very much still on” following an appeal by the developer. The controversial application to build four 328-foot high wind turbines
A MOTOCYCLIST was taken to hospital with minor arm injuries this morning after coming off his Honda 650 bike on the M4. The incident happened shortly before 7.30am between junction 23A Magor services and junction 24, the Coldra. He was taken to
NEWPORT Gwent Dragons head coach Paul Turner hailed the mental strength of his players after an heroic 9-8 victory over Magners League high-fliers Edinburgh at Murrayfield. The rain poured down all day in the Scottish capital but a gutsy
Most people believed firms should have to check their wage rates under moves to close the gender pay gap, according to a new report. A survey by the Fawcett Society and Unison showed massive support for new laws requiring employers to conduct pay audits
THIS is how attackers left a 65-year-old retired carpenter after he asked them to stop harassing a young woman. Bryan Roberts of St Dials was smashed in the head with a skateboard by a group of youths on Wesley Street, Cwmbran. His son
WALES’ only engage Super League club will be rebranded as Crusaders Rugby League to coincide with their move to Newport for the 2010 season. Formed as Celtic Crusaders in 2005, the club also changed its logo to a new modern design that has
A FORMER Gwent councillor said he and his wife may have to leave their home after suffering a string of abuse and criminal damage over the last six weeks. Former Gwent county council leader Graham Powell, 84, who has worked in local politics for 58 years
AN EBBW Vale project has today received almost £50,000 to help it record the memories of the last eisteddfod held in the town 41 years ago. With the National Eistedfodd returning to Ebbw Vale next year, the Ebbw Vale and District Development Trust
A 23-YEAR-OLD man from Blackwood arrested on suspicion of arson after a blaze at an Ynsyddu garage remains on police bail. More than £3,000 worth of damage was caused during the attack on the garage, which was around eight metres from a house where
NEWPORT County boss Dean Holdsworth is ready to break some hearts in order to keep the Exiles’ promotion bid on course. The Exiles stayed top of the Blue Square South on Saturday thanks to a 1-0 win over Basingstoke, with Holdsworth dropping Paul Cochlin
NEWPORT County bounced back from the disappointment of losing their proud 20-game unbeaten run with a dogged victory over a decent Basingstoke outfit at Spytty Park on Saturday. The Exiles can produce far better, especially in attack, where
