Refurbishments to Carmarthen Park forced the Quins to play their opening three matches away from home. They lost at Llanelli and Neath, but picked up a stunning victory at the Talbot Athletic Ground last weekend when they beat last season’s runners-up Aberavon 28-12.
Jones played a huge part in that victory, kicking 11 points and really controlling the game territorally, and he will have new Welsh international scrum half Davies inside him and other Scarlets team mates, Tom Prydie and Tom Williams outside him.
Swansea picked up their first win last weekend when they beat Bridgend 22-6 at St Helen’s and they will have forwards coach, and current Ospreys prop, Hugh Gustafson, in their front row. Wales U18 centre Callum Carson remains in the starting XV and U20 cap Phil Jones comes in at No 10.
Llandovery will go into their home clash with Neath looking to make it four out of four to extend their lead at the top of the table. The only unbeaten team in the West Division, they currently have a four point advantage over Aberavon.
“I’m really pleased with the way things have started and we’ve really kicked-on after beating RGC at home in the first game. Since then we’ve had two tough away trips and the two wins are testimony to all the hard work we’ve done this season,” said Drivers’ head coach, Euros Evans.
“It’s going to be tough against Neath because they have been improving year on year. That improvement has continued this season.”
Bridgend continue with Wales U18 outside half Cai Evans at No 10 and he will have Ospreys centre Owen Watkin alongside him for the home game against Llanelli. The Ravens have lost all three games to date and will be looking for an improvement in their fortunes.
In the other game, RGC 1404 host Aberavon at Parc Eirias. The Gogs picked up their first bonus point of the season at The Gboll last weekend where they beat Neath 31-18.
“We talked about the need to improve out set-piece at half-time last week and, to be fair, we stamped our authority in the pack after the break. We have done a lot of work with our S&C coach Gaz Whittaker and we can see the results in the latter stages of the game,” said RGC skipper Maredydd Francis said.
“We have another big challenge coming up against Aberavon, but we now have some momentum with two wins.”
Teams
Bridgend v Llanelli
Bridgend: Tyler Williams; Ed Doe, Joe Gatt, Owen Watkin, Dylan Moss; Cai Evans, Connor Tantum; Rhodri Apsee, Iestyn Merriman, Cai Lewis, Jack Pope, Kieran Martin, Owain Lloyd, Zac O’Driscoll (captain), Matthew John
Reps: Owen Thomas, Owen Jordan, Garyn Daniel, Chris John, Adam O’Driscoll, Harri Morgan, Ryan Evans, Nathan Edwards
Llanelli: 15. Tom Rogers 14. Ryan Davies 13. Matthew Jenkins 12.Oliver Reyland 11. Ioan Nicholas 10. Ioan Hughes 9. Gareth George; 1. Rhys Fawcett 2. Taylor Davies 3. Simon Gardiner 4. Chris Long 5 Bryce Morgan 6. Ellis Thomas 7. Dan Davis 8. Lloyd Pike (capt)
Replacements: 16. Craig Thomas 17. Rhys Thomas 18. Tom Kaijaks 19. Elliot Rees 20 Jack Condy 21. Declan Smith 22. Billy McBryde 23. Lewis Williams
Carmarthen Quins v Swansea
Carmarthen Quins: Tom Prydie; Tom Williams, Nick Reynolds, Josh Batcup, Morgan Griffiths; Dan Jones, Aled Davies; Nathan Williams, Rhodri Clancy, Javan Sebastian, Tom Price, Josh Helps, Shaun Jones, Lewys Millin, Lee Taylor (captain)
Reps: Rhys Davies, Torin Myhill, Steff Thomas, Rhys Minchin, Sion Colella, Ifan Beynon-Thomas, Aled Thomas, Jack Price
Swansea: Owen Howe; Andrew Claypole, Callum Carson, John Williams, Tom Williams; Phil Jones, Rhodri Wells; Hugh Gustafson, Ashley James, Richard Murphy, Adam Thresher, Jamie Williams, Jon Vaughan, Will Jones, Jon Fox (captain)
Reps: Paul John, Jack Powell, Chris Thomas, Rory Gallagher, Morgan Morris, Josh Guy, James Davies, Jake Randell
Llandovery v Neath
Llandovery: Tomi Lewis; Lee Williams, Rhodri Wall, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Kristian Jones, Lee Rees (captain); Dylan Evans, Ricky Guest, Greg Cunniffe, Jack Jones, Joe Powell, Duane Eager, Stuart Worrall, Emyr Price
Reps: Llyr Green, Berian Watkins, Bryn Griffiths, Richard Brooks, Matthew Moore, Ryan Evans, Jack Maynard, Alex Davies
Neath: Ed Howley; Richard Smith, Keiran Williams, Gavin Evans (captain), Alec Jenkins; Iwan Evans, Scott Gibson; Neil White, Ifan Phillips, Geraint James,; Rhys Jones, Matthew Davies, Leon Ward, A.N.Other, Scott Hicks
Reps: Ben Uphill, Sion Crocker, Ceri White, Elis Hopkins, Jon Barley, Chris Morgans, Matthew Pearce, Mike Evans
RGC 1404 v Aberavon
RGC 1404: Dion Jones; Iolo Evans, Tom Hughes, Tiann Loots, Harri Evans; Jacob Botica, Alex Schwarz; Joe Simpson, Evan Yardley, Sam Wainwright, Maredydd Francis (captain), Andrew Williams, Tim Grey, Dan Owen, Alex Taylor
Reps: Rhys Williams, Curtis Reynolds, Jordan Scott, Robin Williams, Efan Jones, Aron Evans, Ianto Pari
Aberavon: Liam Popham; Chris Banfield, Joe Thomas, Will Price, Shaun Pearce; Steff Williams, Jacob Flynn; Rowan Jenkins, Ieuan Davies, Rhys Henry, Ben Jones, Ben Davies, Lee Purnell (captain), Rob Dudley-Jones, Ben Thomas
Reps: Jon Phillips, Stuart Nicholas, Rhydian George, Rhys Forse, Jordan Walters, Mike Burgess, Jon Thomas, Marc Breeze
