The Keys could not have been given a more difficult challenge to the one they will face on Saturday in their bid to go one better than last season, when they of course were beaten in the final by Munster A at Musgrave Park.
The Falcons are flying in the English Championship this year following their relegation from the Aviva Premiership at the end of last season. They have won 6 out of 6 of their league encounters, with an impressive total of 29 points from a possible 30.
Dean Richards men are probably overwhelming favourites, not only for Saturday’s encounter but also for the tournament outright.
The two sides have met on two occassions previously, in the European Shield (now The Amlin Challenge cup) back in the 2000/01 season, when Keys had a season in the old Welsh/Scottish League. Newcastle, coached then by Rob Andrew triumphed in both fixtures. At Kingston Park the home side emerged victorious by 99-8.
In the home fixture, played at Waunfawr Park due to Pandy Park waterlogged, a much closer game ended 25-11 to the visitors. Back then Newcastle could call on such players as Gary Armstrong, Vaiga Tuigamala, Dave Walder, Doddie Weir, Jamie Noon and a certain outside half by the name of Jonny Wilkinson.
So the toughest of starts for Keys to start their British & Irish cup campaign but Keys thrived on being firm underdogs in this tournament last season so maybe history can repeat itself this time around.
Cross Keys have announced four changes from the side that started against Cardiff last week. In come Luke Williams and Rhys Dyer in the backs in place of Aled James and Ryan James respectively. In the pack the two flankers are changed with Rhys Peebles replacing Jamie Sollis at blindside whilst Dragons openside, Nic Cudd will make his debut for the club in place of Gerwyn Price. The team will be captained by Rhys Dyer with skipper Rob Nash approaching the end of his ban.
Cross Keys 15 Gareth David 14 Elliot Jones 13 Luke Williams 12 Luke Ford 11 Nathan Trowbridge 10 Dean Gunter
9 Rhys Dyer (c); 1 Anthony Lott 2 Garry Horrigan 3 Craig Gould 4 Danny Hodge 5 Ollie Hodge 6 Rhys Peebles7 Nic Cudd 8 Adam Powell
Replacements: Gerwyn Price, Marc Jones, Jamie Sollis, Sean Higgins, Ryan James, Jonathan Lewis, Dorian Jones.
