Both players have returned to the Cardiff Rugby ranks after opting to leave to play sixth form rugby at Clifton College and Millfield. Bowen joined the Bristol Bears academy from Clifton, while Emmanuel captained the Millfield XV and steered Bath to the Premiership U18 title last season.
Still only 18, Emanuel played with the Wales U20 side at the World Rugby Junior Championships in South Africa last summer having joined Bowen in the U18 team earlier in the season. Now the two of them are teaming up to good effect in the new SRC tournament.
Cardiff made it two from two as they avenged their defeat at home by the Steelmen last season. Dewi Cross went over for two more tries, while hooker Efan Daniel and full back Joe Goodchild, celebrating his 50th appearance for the club, got the others.
Former Wales U20 and Ospreys outside half Josh Thomas helped himself to nine points to ensure the Blue & Blacks picked up a try bonus and an extra point for winning by more than 15 or more points to go top of the table.
It was 17-0 to Cardiff at the break before Ieuan Morris crossed for an Ebbw try that Evan Lloyd converted. Lewis Young grabbed a second try for the visitors.
Morgan Morse will get his first run out of the season playing at openside flanker for Swansea in the Super Rygbi Cymru clash with Newport at St Helen’s today.
The Ospreys starlet played at No 8 for Wales U20 throughout last season and is still young enough to play for a fourth year in age-grade. But he has been given a low-key start to the season after his summer workload at the World Rugby Junior Championship in South Africa.
Despite playing 15 times in the BKT United Rugby Championship and EPCR Challenge Cup last season he is going back to his roots this weekend to kick-start his campaign. After their opening day defeat at the hands of Carmarthen Quins the All Whites will be hoping to pick up a win on home soil.
Newport became the first side in the tournament to bag the extra bonus-point for scoring four tries and winning by more than 15 or more points in their opening day victory over Bridgend. They will be without outside half Matt O’Brien but have included both his understudies in their back line.
Carwyn Penny moves from full back to fill the No 10 shirt, while former Wales U20 outside half Jac Lloyd fills in at centre.
Scott Baldwin has made two changes to his Bridgend side for their home clash with Pontypool in the wake of their 41-22 defeat at Newport. Former Wales U20 wing Tom Florence comes into the backline and Liam Tobias moves in at tighthead prop.
Former Wales and Ospreys hooker Baldwin, who headed back to Wales after a season as defence coach at Newcastle Falcons, has taken on his biggest role to date at the Brewery Field and is determined to turn around the fortunes of his first senior club.
“We have to get into a habit and mindset of believing we can win. It is something I am really passionate about,” said Baldwin.
“I was asked the other day about my goal for Bridgend this season and I said, ‘to win the SRC’. It’s about development, but if you are winning your players are developing.
“From a coach’s point of view, when your side is winning the players are buying more into your coaching because they are seeing it work. I’ve been driving into the players about developing a winning habit and making Bridgend a fortress.
“Then away from home, we have to be in the game at 60 minutes. If we are still in the fight it then comes down to how much the players want it.”
Aberavon will be banking on home advantage giving them an edge when they welcome Carmarthen Quins. The Quins got their 150th season off to a flying start with a 39-29 victory over Swansea last weekend and with Tom Phillips at the helm appear to be in very good shape.
Llandovery head north to Colwyn Bay to meet RGC in their second successive away game. They just squeezed past Pontypool in the first game of the season and will be seeking a significant improvement against the Gogs.
SUPER RYGBI CYMRU TEAMS – ROUND 2
ABERAVON v CARMARTHEN QUINS – Talbot Athletic Ground, 2.30pm
Aberavon: Scott Delnevo; Cori Lewis-Jenkins, Frankie Jones, Bradley Roderick, Connor Moyse; Ed Dunford, Liam Seaward; Rowan Jenkins (captain), Cameron Lewis, Geraint James, Shay Smallman, Lewis Marsh, Rhys Thomas, Ashton Evans, Gwilym Evans
Reps: Sam Jardine, Charlie Thomas, Caine Woolerton, Saul Hurley, Taine Morgan, James Clegg, Dylan James, Jack BeazerCarmarthen Quins: Eilir George; Louis Rees, Iestyn Gwilliam, Gabe McDonald, Iori Badham; Osian Jones, Rhodri Davies; James Newnian, Lewis Morgan, Ifan James, Ryan Bean, Josh Helps, Tom Phillips (captain), Lewys Millin, Iestyn Richards
Reps: Will C Lewis, Sion Jones, Connor Allen, Lee Taylor, Gethin Davies, Lucca Setaro, Ryan Davies, Dylan RichardsBRIDGEND v PONTYPOOL – Brewery Field, 2.30pm
Bridgend: Edd Howley; McCauley Rowley, Joe Gatt, Ryan Wilkins, Tom Florence; Luke Price, Harvey Nash; Harry Olding, Corey Lewis, Liam Tobias, Dylan Burrows, Barnaby Waddell, Kyle Harris, Zac O’Driscoll (captain), Jordan Collier
Reps: Evan Yardley, Alex George, Marley Lovell, Alfie Llewellyn, Tom Jevons, Callaghan Smith, Ben Burnell, Jake ThomasPontypool: Huw Anderson; Ioan Duggan, Pat Lewis, Joel Mahoney, Mathew Powell; Keiran Meek, Matthew Flanagan; Sam Cochrane, Sam Scarfe, Kelvyn Williams, Morgan Allen, Dan Hill, Mike Herbert (captain), Callum Davies, Scott Matthews
Reps: Kyan Best, Connor Chapman, Harry Drane, Ieuan Jones, Adam Stratton, Evan Minto, Dylan Davies, Amosa NoveRGC v LLANDOVERY – Stadiwm CSM, 2.30pm
RGC: Dion Jones; Rhys Tudor, Afon Bagshaw, Danny Cross (captain), Sam Stoddard; Billy McBryde, Connor Dever; Jessie Williams, Rhodri King, Pedr Jones, Tal Taylor, Ilan Evans, Dan Owen, Charlie Probert, Sam Williams
Reps: Jack Tomlinson, Gareth Parry, Pat Nelson, Billy McQueeney, Celt Ffransis-Roberts, Tudur Jones, Delwyn Jones, Sam Earl-JonesLlandovery: Jack Maynard; Morgan Meaclem, Adam Warren, Rhodri Jones, Harri Doel; Ioan Hughes, Lee Rees (captain); Dino Dallavalle, Harry Thomas, Llyr Green, Chris Long, Will Evans, Osian Davies, William Plessis, Jordan Evans
Reps: Taylor Davies, Jamie Hughes, Berian Watkins, Jake Baker, Harry Holden, Harri Jones, Steffan Jones, George MacdonaldSWANSEA v NEWPORT – St Helen’s, Swansea, 2.30pm
Swansea: Harri Houston; Callum Dodd, Callum Carson, Joe Thomas (captain), Tom Edwards; Josh Phillips, Iwan Temblett; Cameron Jones, Owen Thomas, Ellis Fackrell, Sam Pailor, Chris Thompson, Geraint Powell, Morgan Morse, Luca Giannini
Reps: Ieuan Davies, Freddie Chapman, Kian Hire, Dan Gemine, Cai Davies, Aron Hemmings, Harri Williams, Brandon WoodNewport: Ioan Davies; Lloyd Lewis, Barney Nightingale, Jac Lloyd, Elliot Frewen; Carwyn Penny, Dafydd Buckland; Tom Workman, Wade Langley, Nathan Evans, Joe Peard, Rynard Landman, Josh Skinner, Josh Reid, Ben Roach (captain)
Reps: Tyler Olding, Archie Callaghan, Oli Drake, Nick Thomas, Kyle Tayler, Luke Crane, Jonathan Morris, Liam Lloyd
