Cross Keys host Swansea this Saturday for the latest Principality Premiership clash at Pandy Park.
The Whites will come in to the match at Pandy Park full of confidence after they picked up their first win of the season last Saturday when they defeated Neath at St. Helens by 25 points to 12. Prior to that the Whites had suffered 3 successive defeats in their opening games when they lost on the road at Aberavon (24-10) and at Bridgend on Scrum V live by 26 points to 23. They also went down to a home defeat at the hands of RGC1404 who triumphed by 34 points to 26.
For the third week in a row Keys might face a familiar face or 2 in the opposition lineup as Nathan Trowbridge joined the Whites from Keys over the summer. He could be joined by another former Keys player, Owen Howe in the visitors lineup, although Trowbridge has missed the last few games for his new side with injury. Also joining Swansea over the summer was outside half Foard Cooksley who appeared for Keys toward the end of last season and he had made an impressive start to life at St. Helens.
Last season due to the geographical split the 2 sides met just once in the Principality Premiership, back in February at St. Helens and the Keys took the victory by 30 points to 23. For The Keys Josh Skinner crossed for 2 tries to add to one apiece for Richard Cornock and Scott Matthews. Josh Prosser also added 2 conversions and 2 penalties for Keys. The Whites crossed for 2 tries via Josh Guy and Richard Fussell with Gareth Walters adding both conversions and a penalty to add to a pair of penalties by former Keys man Owen Howe.
Back to Saturday’s upcoming fixture and Keys make a few changes to the side that lost at Bargoed last weekend. In the pack Tom Lampard moves back in to the second row to replace Harvey Reader. In the back row Izaak Duffy returns from injury at number 8 which means that Joe Thomas moves to openside in a rejigged back row. In the back line there will be a first start in a Keys shirt for Dragons scrum half Dan Babos as he swaps places with Owain Leonard, after making his debut from the bench last week. Also making his first start in a Keys shirt is centre Dylan Fidler who replaces Declan Williams in the starting lineup.
The Cross Keys side for Saturday’s game in full is:-
15. Leon Andrews
14. Wes Cunliffe
13. Srdan Majkic
12. Dylan Fidler
11. Mason Williams
10. Jason Tovey
9. Dan Babos
1. Gary Carpenter
2. Rhydian Jenkins
3. Richard Cornock
4. Damian Welch (c)
5. Tom Lampard
6. Lee Evans
7. Joe Thomas
8. Izaak Duffy
Replacements: 16. Connah Vaughan, 17. Scott Hoskins, 18. Corey Hewlett, 19. Harvey Reader, 20. Joe Carlin, 21. Declan Williams, 22. Owain Leonard, 23. Chris Johnsey.
Cross Keys v Swansea Principality Premiership
Date: Saturday 29th September 2018
Venue: Pandy Park
Kick Off: 2.30pm
