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Drovers face crunch tie

Drovers face crunch tie

Llandovery face a difficult challenge on Saturday as they take on Doncaster at Church Bank.

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The Drovers currently top Pool 8 with two wins in the competition so far.

They face a crunch clash with second placed Doncaster with the winner of the game likely to progress to the quarter finals.

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The two sides are well clear of Melrose and Nottingham in the pool and a win for Llandovery would make the Welsh side clear favourites to advance to the latter stages of the competition.

The home side will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Pontypridd last Friday night and are led by Lloyd Phillips who starts at flanker.

Elswhere, the return of Rhodri Williams at scrum half is bound to inject some energy into the Drovers’ attacking play as they look to get back to winning ways.

Last weekend’s win over Jersey has lifted confidence in the Doncaster side and the Knights travel to West Wales desperate to register their second successive victory and boost their chances of qualifying for the knock out stages.

New signing Connor Braid again starts at full-back following his Man-of-the-Match debut performance with Louis Silver returning to scrum-half.

Two notable returning players are Leicester Tigers pair Andy Symons and Keiran Brookes who enter the starting fray immediately and will bolster the centre and front-row positions respectively. Both Tigers stars will make their second appearance for the Knights as links with the Premiership giants are strengthened.

England Saxon, Brookes will slot into tight-head with Brain McGovern returning to loose-head and Rhys Buckley keeping his position at hooker on his return to Wales. Fellow former Newport Gwent Dragon Royce Cadman returns to the starting line-up after a spell out injured and is partnered by captain Matt Challinor.

The back row has seen a complete overhaul of personnel as Andy Boyde, David Bradford and Sam Pailor get the chance to impress in their first start under Clive Griffiths.

Llandovery: 15 Matthew Jacobs 14 Jake Randall 13 Adam Warren 12 Dylan Morgans 11 Lee Rees
10 Cerith Rees 9 Rhodri Williams, 1 Dorian Williams 2 Luke Lewis 3 Dean Howells 4 Llewelyn Jones
5 Bryn Griffiths 6 Phil Day 7 Lloyd Phillips (c) 8 Richard Brooks.
Replacements: Andrew Jones, Wyn Jones, Matthew Harbut, Luke Kendall, Tom Ball, James Garland, Jack Roberts.

Doncaster: 15 Connor Braid 14 Dougie Flockhart 13 James Tincknell 12 Andy Symons 11 Tyson Lewis 10 Jamie Lennard 9 Louis Silver, 1 Brian McGovern 2 Rhys Buckley 3 Kieran Brookes 4 Matt Challinor (c) 5 Royce Cadman
6 Andy Boyde 7 David Bradford 8 Sam Pailor.
Replacements: Ben Sowery, Jack Bergmanas, Phil Hoy, Jethro Rawling, Tomas Francis, Dante Mama, Chris Hallam.

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