League leaders Ospreys, who have already booked their place in the play-offs, travel up the M4 to Cardiff to take on Blues South at Rumney RFC. Confidence is understandably high with the region having won six of their seven games to date.
Two tries from leading try scorer Dafydd Howells helped tonight’s visitors to a 45-19 victory when the sides met at Llandarcy back in September. Howells is once again named in a strong Ospreys side that also includes impressive full-back Liam Popham and scrum half Daniel Brooks.
Blues North, who boast the same playing record, but with two bonus points less, make the long journey west to Parc y Scarlets. Team manager Nigel Way is hoping for another solid performance from a side that won the fixture, on home soil, back in Spetember. Matthew Jeczalik scored a brace of tries on that occasion, but he misses out this evening, as does Jonathan Barnett.
The Scarlets are still in contention for a spot in the semi finals after winning two of their last three games – both against Blues South.
“It’s another tough game for the boys, but we have done well this season and as a side, they are developing nicely,” said Way.
In the under 18 Championship, Cardiff Blues host the Scarlets at Abercwmboi – the match has been switched from Cardiff Arms Park – with a bonus point likely to all but secure their place in the final.
The Scarlets, who are third, are five points behind, but only two adrift of the Ospreys in second. A victory for the visitors, would certainly improve their chances of achieving qualification. Prolific points gatherer Jordan Williams starts at outside half opposite the Blues’ own points machine Rhys Patchell. The latter was in decent form against the Dragons last week, scoring two tries and kicking three conversions to take his season’s tally to 54.
Scarlets Under 16s: J Barnes; J Adams, S Evans, C Woodall, M Davies; J Maynard, G Rees; K Evans, E Lewis, D Thomas, J Helps, A Washbourne, T Phillips, W Boyde, G Kenniford. Replacements: S Phillips, J Sebastian, T Myhill, L Watling, D Treharne, J Evans, O Bowen
Blues North U16s: S Hutchinson; G Davies, S Edwards, G Smyth; O Smythe; S Withers, S Clark; L Crump, A Gibbs, D Lewis, J James, A Luxton, J James, I Evans, T Samuel. Replacements: N Evans, S Grant, T Williams, B Llewellyn, J Harris, A Summerhill, A Gwynne
Blues South U16s: D Wardle; H Hitchcock, B Chandler, C Roberts-Walters, C Flowers; T McAloon, W Baird; G McPherson, R Spriggs, J Bishop, M Snook, J Sheeky, J Haines, S Parker, E Sebestyen-Regan. Replacements: K Trotman, E Phillips, D Gooding, D Davies, J Hall, G Llewellyn, G Davies
Ospreys U16s: L Popham; A Rowlands, J Anderson, M Burnell, D Howells; J White, D Brooks; L Jonathan, C Forshaw (capt), D Owens, R Morgan, C Davies, L Cox, C Leyshon, J Collier. Replacements: I Merriman, M Parmenter, A Williams, C Williams, O Howe, J Needs, T Maggs
Blues U18s: R Lovering; H Robinson, R Evans, C Allen, O Jenkins; R Patchell, J Soanes; T Davies, J Dando, B Thyer, B Roach, C Lacey, E Jenkins (capt), S Pring, L Young. Replacements: J Hopkins, C Lewis, L Connolly, S Ralph, S Middlemiss, G Thomas, J Phillips
Scarlets U18s: L Treharne (capt); P Ruschesha, S Hughes, G Owen, A Evans; J Williams, R Williams; B Allsop, T Ball, G Thomas, D Morgan, C Marks, O Powell, D Thomas, C Morris. Replacements: J Iles, T Kayaks, R Jones, J Williams, C Lloyd, S Maynard, J Randell
