CROSS Keys are going to be displaying a United front when they head north to take on Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 tomorrow evening.
The Pandy Park side are taking a strong team to Colwyn Bay for the friendly but will be bolstering it with a quintet of young prospects who have been starring for their development side.
Cross Keys United reformed this season and have recorded some impressive wins that have earned some of their players a shot for the seniors.
Gavin Herbert will start at Parc Eirias in the absence of skipper Lloyd Burns, who is on the bench for the Dragons against Edinburgh on Sunday, while tighthead prop Chris Cornock, back row/lock Anthony Brown, scrum-half Curtis Watkins and centre Richard Torjeson will be on the bench.
“It’s a great opportunity for the boys away from the pressure of the league and we can have a good look at them,” said head coach Greg Woods.
“Running two sides is huge for the club and shows the strides being made here. United’s results have been superb but it is not just about the winning – we know that there are plenty of boys ready to step in and a make the progression into the full squad.”
Keys are excited by the challenge of going up against a side that has been labelled ‘the Rebels’ up north as opposed to the obscure RGC 1404 name.
They have beaten sides of the calibre of Worcester A, the Royal Navy, Sale A and Glamorgan Wanderers.
With the Welsh Rugby Union no doubt looking at parachuting them into the Premiership, Keys are a scalp that the north Walians would love.
“We are looking forward to it and it will be interesting to see how things are developing up there,” said Woods. “After looking at their results so far I think it will be a tough game so we are going up there fully-loaded.”
Keys do, however, head north without Burns, centre Leon Andrews and lock Ben Watkins – all key figures.
Keys are captained by openside Rob Nash, one of the stars of the Premiership this season, and Jevon Groves moves forward to lock with Rhys Peebles taking his place in the back row.
Richard Cornock starts at loosehead and could be joined in the front row by his brother Chris, a tighthead who has been anchoring the United scrum. Newport Saracens loosehead Mike Hutchings is on the bench.
Cross Keys: R Lee, M Johnstone, M Pewtner, D Langdon, J Bird, G David, O Jones, J Price, G Herbert, R Cornock, M Curtis, J Groves, R Peebles, R Nash (captain), T Lampard. Replacements: C Cornock, M Hutchings, J Faletau, A Brown, C Watkins, R James, N Trowbridge, R Torjeson.
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