Dragons search for first scalp

The Ospreys Under 18s will be looking to maintain the pressure on the Blues tomorrow night when they take on the Dragons in the WRU Age Grade Championship, at Newbridge.

However, the hosts, who kicked off their season with a bonus point defeat at the hands of the Scarlets last week, will be gunning for their first scalp of the new season.

The Dragons went down 19-13 in that game, despite a first half try from Alec Cooper and one or two late opportunities to snatch the spoils. In contrast, the Ospreys made no mistake in North Wales where they defeated Gogledd Cymru 37-12, courtesy of 22 points from Matthew Morgan.

Morgan starts on the bench tomorrow, but the visitors will hope to continue their decent start by adding a second successive victory on their travels.

In the Under 16 championship, the Scarlets get a first opportunity to play at the Parc y Scarlets complex, against a Blues North side in real need of a victory after successive defeats against the Dragons and Gogledd Cymru.

The Scarlets, who have the outstanding Jordan Williams at outside half, will fancy their chances of building on a decent start to the season. After brushing aside Gogledd Cymru 34-0 at Llandovery, they followed up with a 32-21 victory over Blues South at Taffs Well.

Williams, who bagged 17 points in that game and 19 against Gogledd Cymru, is regarded as one of the brightest young backs in the game.

The North did pick up a losing bonus point for scoring four tries in Colwyn Bay last time out and will hope that captain, centre and joint leading try scorer Callum Phillips can inspire his side in Llanelli.

The other Under 16 game sees the Blues South entertain the Dragons at Taffs Well – the hosts fresh from a 33-15 victory over Gogledd Cymru on Sunday.

Fixtures (7.15 kick off)
Under 16
Scarlets v Blues North (Parc y Scarlets)
Blues South v Dragons (Taffs Well)

Under 18
Dragons v Ospreys (Newbridge)

Blues South Under 16: R Smith; J Phillips, L Chalke, T Perry, T Lewis; G Thompson., L O’Brien; T Jennings, M Perks, B Rookes, L Connolly, B Roach, Z Deere, L Helyar, W Meades. Replacements: T Crosse, G Nash, R Owens, R Pilcher, R Woodman, S Middlemiss, B Harding

Dragons Under 16: E Davies; J Dixon, H Amos, S Cole, D Franchi; N Martin, C Imms; B Edwards, D Goode (capt), T Shipp, T Hicks, S Andrews, S Matthews, R Anderson, J Benjamin. Replacements: J Kendall, J Franchi, D Jones, M Adams, J Guy, M Sevenoaks, L Morgan, G Eldred

Blues North Under 16: J Flye; K Thomas, J Barrett, C Phillips (capt), K Hughes; L Montague, J Raikes; J Dunning, J Hughes, J Parry, J Cleaver, C Lacey, M Davies, J James, S Ralph. Replacements: E Lewis, C Lewis, D Morris, S Pring, C Gay, L Rees, J Soanes

Scarlets Under 16: S Evans; Dylan Morgan, S Hughes, G Owen, J Randall; J Williams, C Lloyd; B Davies, T Ball, G Davies, Dyfed Morgan, C Marks, S Bennett, D Thomas, J Williams. Replacements: R Jones, D Harvard, D Doughty, M Vaux, J Thomas, G Howells, T Griffiths

Dragons Under 18: S Bevan; S Jones, E Wheaton, L Bellamore, A Cooper; J Prosser, J Evans (capt); D Morgan, T Rusga, L Bacon, H Lewis, C Regan, M Thomas, J Sollis, L Burgess. Replacements: J Williams, D Newlands, M O’Brien, I Jones, R Matthews, G Kemp, K Griffiths

Ospreys Under 18: E Walker; B Davies, Ben Davies, N Edwards, L Morgan; O Williams, T Habberfield; R Thomas, R Curtis, D Saines, A Evans, J Jones (capt), L Ward, O Pardoe, D Baker. Replacements: G Marvin, M Morgan, B Ellis, A Rees, C Seeley, D Palmer, S Treharne