The Blues Under 18s will maintain their push towards the final of the WRU Age Grade Championship if they can upend the Dragons at Newbridge tonight (KO 7.15pm).
Three successive victories so far this term has left the side five points behind leaders the Scarlets but with two games in hand.
It has been a collective effort from the region in the opening two months of the season with team manager Sophie Bennett delighted with the progress being made.
She said; “After a decent pre-season, we have made significant strides as a team and the coaches are understandably pleased with the development. I hope we can continue to make those strides in the coming weeks.”
Although the collective effort has most certainly been the key for the Blues, outside half Joseff Griffin could once again be the key to their success at the Dragons.
The talented pivot already has 32 points to his name so far this season and was in outstanding form when the region defeated the Ospreys at Llandarcy in their last league game.
The Dragons, however, will be no pushovers. After a disappointing start to the campaign – they lost their opening games against the Ospreys and Scarlets – they have bounced back with successive victories over Gogledd Cymru and the Ospreys.
Matthew O’Brien has been responsible for the majority of their points this season – the outstanding full back helped himself to a try and seven points with the boot in the victory over the Ospreys.
Meanwhile the Scarlets under 18s will maintain their position on top of the pile if they can put one over on the Ospreys at Llandovery (KO 7.15pm).
Liam Hamilton leads the Scarlets against their neighbours with the likes of Kirby Myhill and Rheon James, who scored tries in last week’s 22-6 victory over Gogledd Cymru, both named in the starting line up. Another try scorer against the North, Llyr Morris takes his place on the bench.
The Ospreys meanwhile will be hoping to put their show back on the road after going down to the Dragons on home soil last time out.
Dragons: M O’Brien; A Cooper, B Hill, L Bellamore, T Ashmead; J Prosser, J-B Bruzilier; D Morgan, T Rusga (capt), G Kemp, H Lewis, C Regan, J Sollis, J Tayler, L Burgess
Replacements: J Williams, J Davies, L Smalley, S Bevan, L Bacon, I Jones, M Thomas
Blues: R Lovering; E Jones, C Driscoll, T Pascoe, H Robinson; J Griffin, L Jones; T Davies, J Dando, W John, J Sienawski, M Screech, C Thomas, T Young (capt), O Sheppeard
Replacements: J Williams, D Harris, A Lee, E Jenkins, A Meades, L Williams, S Campbell
Scarlets: J Russell; L Williams, G North, R James, I Evans; L Treharne, A Davies; N Bowen, K Myhill, J Kayjaks, L Hamilton (capt), J Gardiner, R Bloomfield, O Powell, C Morris
Replacements: R Evans, O Lloyd, S Lee, D Coleman, L Morris, R Williams, T-E Williams
