THE GWENT derby between Ebbw Vale and Newport in Super Rygbi Cymru scheduled for Saturday afternoon has been postponed.

The Steelmen were poised to host the Black and Ambers to get the second block of the tournament under way after a break for the autumn internationals.

However, Ebbw posted pictures of snow on the Eugene Cross Park pitch on Thursday night and on Friday afternoon it was confirmed that the derby, which would have been played in extremely heavy conditions at best, had fallen victim to the weather with a new date yet to be arranged.

Newport would have been attempting to win the SRC Shield, a gimmick introduced by the Welsh Rugby Union that is defended on home soil.

Ebbw claimed it by beating Premiership champions Llandovery in the first block and are next at Eugene Cross Park on December 14 against Cardiff.

The Black and Ambers are already playing catch-up in the league after their match at Aberavon in September was abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch in torrential rain.

The second-placed Steelmen travel to Swansea next weekend while third-placed Newport welcome Carmarthen Quins to Spytty Park.

Pontypool aim to make it three wins on the spin when they host one-from-bottom Aberavon tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 1.30pm).

POWERFUL: Morgan Allen has been a handful for PontypoolPOWERFUL: Morgan Allen has been a handful for Pontypool (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

If the conditions are testing in Torfaen then Pooler have the ball carriers to adapt with Scott Matthews and Morgan Allen starting in the back row along with Mike Herbert.

Direct forwards Matthews and Allen ran amok in the 43-10 hammering of Swansea at St Helen’s last time out, while Dan Hill and Ieuan Jones in the second row aren’t shy with ball in hand either.

Pooler feature Joel Mahoney in midfield after his early season form earned a chance for the Dragons in development game wins against the Scarlets and Ospreys, scoring a try in the second fixture.

Young Dragons fly-half Harri Ford starts with Kieran Meek slotting in at inside centre but scrum-half Morgan Lloyd and full-back Huw Anderson are not released by the Rodney Parade club.

The impressive pair are pushing hard for action in the next block of fixtures in the United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup.

Pontypool: Pat Lewis, Matthew Powell, Joel Mahoney, Kieran Meek, Marcus Jones; Harri Ford, Owain Leonard; Sam Cochrane, Connor Chapman, Harry Drane, Dan Hill, Ieuan Jones, Scott Matthews, Mike Herbert (captain), Morgan Allen.

Replacements: Jamie Savery, Peter Lloyd, Kyan Best, Lewis Robey, Ryan Jones, Callum Davies, Amosa Nove, Walker Price.