It’s all to play for in the WRU Age Grade under 16 Championship with three of the six sides still in with a chance of reaching the final.
The top two, Scarlets and Ospreys, meet at Llandarcy tomorrow night at 7.15 with the visitors knowing that a second successive defeat of the old enemy this season will secure their place in the final. Tomorrow’s other game sees the third placed Blues South take on Blues North at Abercwmboi (7.15).
Whilst success for the Scarlets will be good enough to see them home, a home victory for the Ospreys will not only keep alive their chances of qualifying, but will take them to within touching distance of the leaders. At present, the Scarlets have 31 points from seven successive victories whilst the Ospreys are six points behind albeit having played one game more.
It was a close run thing back in October when the sides met at Parc y Scarlets. Trailing 13-12 at half time, Scarlets won the day when Steffan Evans crossed for a late try. Jake Randall and Gethin Davies scored the other Scarlets’ tries with Rhys William and Sam M Davies making sure of a losing bonus point for the Ospreys.
A further three points behind the Ospreys, in third, are Blues South who are seeking the double over a North side clearly seeking revenge for their 25-13 defeat at Taffs Well back in October.
A try from Jack Barratt and eight points from the boot of centre Callum Phillips was not enough to prevent a disappointing reverse for the North who saw South wing Osian Davies bag a try hat trick that night. Gareth Thompson topped up his season’s haul with 10 points leaving the South in a healthy position.
Meanwhile, Gogledd Cymru coaches, players and management will be scanning the weather forecast this week as they seek to play the Newport Gwent Dragons at Eirias Parc on Sunday.
The recent cold weather snap has left the young North Walians with four outstanding fixtures in the regional age-grade competition, including two against the Dragons, whom they are scheduled to play in South Wales in 11 days time.
Scarlets: W Lewis; D Morgan, S Evans, J Owens, J Randall; J Williams, R Lloyd; D Davies, G Havard, T Davies, D Treharn, C Morgan, S Bennett, D Doughty. Replacements: B Davies, T Ball, C Evans, M Vaux, R James, J Morgan, S Hughes
