The Ospreys under 16s and under 18s were in winning mood on Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow night <Wednesday>, the Scarlets, Dragons and Blues will step up to the plate as the WRU Age Grade Championship, once agin, takes centre stage.
At under-16, Blues North face one of their toughest examinations of the campaign to date – away at the Dragons - whilst the Scarlets entertain Blues South at Parc y Scarlets.
Victory for the North will put them in a strong position to reach the play-offs, whilst a win for the hosts, who were consummate 24-0 winners over Blues South at Rumney last week, will enhance their chances of qualification. The Gwent region currently lie in third place, four points behind Blues North and a further six adrift of the Ospreys who have played a game more.
Jack James scored the only try of the game when the sides met back in August – a Lloyd Rogers’ penalty not enough for the Dragons who went down 10-3 at Abercwmboi. Blues North team manager Nigel Way will confirm his bench on Wednesday morning, but James leads the side, once again, from the blindside flank and prolific outside half Sam Withers plays outside of Shaun Clark.
The Dragons, who are unbeaten at Pandy Park, will be led by full back Mitchell Starr while centre Hallam Amos could be the one to watch – his four touchdowns this season makes him the side’s joint leading try scorer, alongside wing Ashton Hewitt.
The Scarlets under 16s will hope to bounce back from their narrow 33-27 defeat at the hands of the Ospreys last week when they meet Blues South on home soil. Two tries from Steffan Evans was enough to give the visitors a losing bonus point, but if they have any grand designs on reaching the play-offs, they will need to win their final home game of the campaign.
The South are currently four points adrift of the Scarlets, but victory, of any kind would close the gap to within a point, at least. A bonus point win and nothing for the Scarlets would see the visitors move into fourth spot.
Blues under 18s go in search of a fourth win of the season when they take on the Dragons. The game was originally scheduled for Cardiff Arms Park, but has been moved to Merthyr. Victory would take the Blues back into top spot ahead of the Ospreys who were 19-12 winners against RGC 1404 at Llandarcy at the weekend.
Rhys Thomas bagged the only try for the Ospreys while for the visitors, Lewis Baker and Owain Aled crossed and Dion Jones added a conversion. In the end, Sam Davies made the difference – the outside half kicked a conversion and four penalties to make sure of the points.
The Ospreys under 16s were more comfortable winners against their North Wales visitors – Joe Thomas, Daniel Brooks (2), Dafydd Howells, Michael Parmenter and Adam Rowlands all crossing for tries in a 38-10 victory at Corus, Port Talbot.
David Bowen scored a consolation try for RGC with Osian Jones adding a conversion and penalty.
Dragons under 16: M Starr (capt); J Dowle, J Dixon, H Amos, A Hewitt; L Rogers; L Crane; L Garrett, C Paul, A Jeffries, T Sparshott, J Bullen, E Whitson, R Pugsley, R Anderson. Replacements: C Griffiths, R Thomas, A Cullen, C Allen, T Senior, J Howells, A Bidgood
Blues North under 16s: S Hutchinson; O Smyth, A Summerhill, S Edwards, J Barnett; S Withers, S Clark; J Smedley, N Mason, D Lewis, A Luxton, M Jeczalik, J James (capt), I Evans, B Llewellyn. Replacemnts: (from) N Evans, A Gibbs, L Crump, S Grant, J James, T Williams, T Samuel, J Harris, A Gwynne, J Evans
Dragons under18s: B Robinson; J Purcell, T Ashmead, S Cole, D Franchi, N Martin, J Davies, J Johnstone, E Dee, B Edwards, J Bartlett, L Randell, J Benjamin (capt), S Matthews, I Jones. Replacements: J Williams, J Tucker, R Stephens, J Sullivan, J Guy, E Davies, B Kent.
Blues under 18s: R Patchell; L Chalke, R Evans, C Allen, H Robinson; G Thomas, J Soanes; J Dunning, J Hopkins, B Thyer, B Roach, L Connolly, Z Deere, L Young, E Jenkins (capt). Replacements: E Lewis, T Davies, C Lacey, S Pring, S Middlemiss, J Barrett, J Phillips.
Fixtures
Under 16
Scarlets v Blues South at Parc y Scarlets (7.15)
Dragons v Blues North at Pandy Park (7.15)
Under 18
Blues v Dragons at Merthyr (7.15)
