The Under 18s, buoyed by their victory over the previously unbeaten Scarlets, are hoping to make it two wins in as many games against a Blues side that defeated them 69-24 in Merthyr on the opening weekend of the season.
The Blues scored 11 tries on that occasion with Cory Allen helping himself to a hat-trick and openside Lewis Young two. Allen misses the long journey north, but Young is named on a back row that also includes captain Ellis Jenkins.
The game, which is being played at Eirias Parc, Colwyn Bay (2:30) sees the RGC 1404 team field the same starting 15 that began the game against the Scarlets. The only alteration to the squad is the introduction of Ben Baker on the bench.
Victory for the Blues would take them in top top spot, ahead of the Scarlets, who are still smarting from last month’s 23-22 defeat at the hands of RGC 1404.
The RGC under 16s will face an equally challenging task when they play a Blues North side (Rydal School, 2.30) that has only lost once this season. The Blues were 42-14 winners when the teams met in August.
Although the RGC 1404 side are yet to taste victory so far this year, they have come agonisingly close on a number of occasions, most noticeably against the Blues South, in early September, when they lost with the last play of the game.
Blues North are led, once again, by no.8 Jack James, with prolific outside half Sam Withers hoping to add to his impressive points haul.
RGC Under 16: O Jones; H Edwards, R Williams, E Gwynedd, D Bowen; J Hughes, G Pari; C Mitchell, L Williams, S Hughes, H Collins, J Parry, DR Jones, S Critchley, M Davies, G Pari. Replacements: J Jones, O Suter, G Jones, J Foster, J Edwards, R Mayor, R Cartwright
Blues North under 16: S Hutchinson; O Smyth, A Summerhill, S Edwards, J Barnett; S Withers, J Harris; J Smedley, N Evans, D Lewis, A Luxton, T Williams, J Allen, I Evans, J James (capt). Replacements: N Mason, S Grant, J James, T Samuel, S Clarke, G Smith
RGC Under 18: (from) D Jones; J Blackmore, M Jones, J Williams, J Roberts; L Barker, A Schwarz; J Simpson; G Pym, R Evans, J Williams, L Williams, J Grundy, M Parry, A Gwyn, O Hughes, M Bevan, B Baker, M Francis, O Aled, J Bennett, L Edwards, J Kelly, T Brittain
Blues under 18: T Preece; H Robinson, R Evans, J Phillips, O Jenkins; R Patchell, S Middlemiss; T Davies, E Lewis, B Thyer, B Roach, C Lacey, E Jenkins (capt), L Young, S Pring. Replacements: J Hopkins, C Lewis, L Connolly, Z Deere, J Raikes, G Thomas, O Rees
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