Sport

Wales duo return to boost Scarlets side for Benetton clash

Published

8 months ago

February 20, 2021

WALES internationals Jake Ball and Ryan Elias have been included in the Scarlets team to take on Benetton for the resumption of Guinness PRO14 action on Saturday (15:00 Premier Sports).

Ball and Elias have been released from Wales’ Six Nations squad to get some game-time during the fallow week of the tournament and are among five personnel changes to the Scarlets starting line-up.

Steff Evans has recovered from a dead leg and returns to the No. 11 jersey, taking his place in a back three that also includes fellow Wales international Johnny McNicholl and Ryan Conbeer.

Tyler Morgan and skipper Steff Hughes continue in midfield, while Sam Costelow and Dane Blacker are again the starting half-backs.

Elias packs down alongside Phil Price and Javan Sebastian in the front row, while Ball starts next to Morgan Jones at lock.

In the back row, Sione Kalamfoni and Jac Morgan have been cleared to play. Kalamafoni has recovered from the head knock sustained at home to Cardiff Blues, while Morgan has overcome a knee injury and is set for his first appearance since the Champions Cup win over Bath in December.

Uzair Cassiem switches from No. 8 to blindside flanker.

On the bench, prop Steff Thomas is set for his PRO14 debut and he joins Marc Jones, the fit-again Pieter Scholtz, Sam Lousi and Ed Kennedy as the forward cover.

Will Homer, Dan Jones and Paul Asquith are the backline subs.

Head coach Glenn Delaney said: “We have had a productive few weeks since the Leinster game. It is important that we are patient and we have to build ourselves into the contest, which we did well in a tight affair in horrendous conditions out in Treviso. We need to get the right level of application and we need to execute.

“There is a huge amount to play for in these final four games. Champions Cup places are on the line and it is going to be a real scrap in our Conference.”

Scarlets v Benetton (Parc y Scarlets, 15:00, Premier Sports)
15 Johnny McNicholl; 14 Ryan Conbeer, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Steff Hughes (capt), 11 Steff Evans; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Phil Price, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Javan Sebastian, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Morgan Jones, 6 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Sione Kalamafoni.
Reps: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Pieter Scholtz, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Ed Kennedy, 21 Will Homer, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Paul Asquith.

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Blues battle to win over Aberaeron in KO Cup

Published

6 hours ago

October 21, 2021

James Hemingray

HAVERFORDWEST booked their place in the quarter finals of the Pembrokeshire KO Cup, where they will meet Pembroke Dock Harlequins, after beating Aberaeron on Wednesday night (Oct 20).

Despite the atrocious weather conditions, which saw rain batter the Pembroke Road playing surface for much of the game, both sides played an excellent game.

In the end it was the Blues who came out on top with a 44-6 win.

Outside Half Jake Morgan got the Blues rolling early on with a penalty and Rhys Baker then scored the game’s first try to make it 8-0.

Second Row Jack Clancy got his name on the score sheet but the conversion was missed.

Aberaeron then got themselves on the board with a penalty but the Blues were soon back on the attack with Will Blackburn next to go over.

That was converted by Morgan to give the home side a 20-3 lead.

Lewis Tingay and Rhys Baker added further tries for the Blues while Aber added a further penalty as the sides went in at half time with the score reading 30-6.

Early in the second half Tingay added his second try of the night and Morgan added the conversion.

That all but ended any hopes the away side had of getting themselves back in the game and the Blues continued to play despite the pouring rain.

Tingay then completed his hat trick with a try under the posts giving Morgan a simple conversion to make it 44-6.

There was no scoring in the final twenty minutes but the Blues had done the job and booked their place in the last eight.

Their quarter final with the Quins will be played on or before January 22.

Sport

Pembrokeshire Schools Under 10s get season up and running

Published

2 days ago

October 20, 2021

James Hemingray

PEMBROKESHIRE Schools Under 10s played their first game of the new season last Sunday (Oct 17) against a strong OT Academy Squad.

The Pembrokeshire boys played four small sided games, drawing one and losing three. The boys are next in action next month when they hope to play Carmarthenshire Schools.

Pembrokeshire Schools Under 10s: Spencer James (Cleddau Reach), Noah Bicknell (Prendergast), Harri Jones (Holy Name), Jamie Cook (Pembroke Dock), Toby Jones (Holy Name), Isaac Jenkins (Narberth), Iori Williams (Narberth), Cai Price (Ysgol Caer Elen), Celt Edwards (Frenni), Joe Davies (Ysgol Glannau Gwaun), Jaden Petrie (Prendergast), Logan Lewis (Pembroke Dock), Zach Loveridge (Waldo Williams), James Burns (Lamphey).