The only way is up, insists coach Burnell
CARLETS CARDIFF Blues Premiership Select head coach Justin Burnell is expecting a much-closer game against Doncaster Knights at Sardis Road this afternoon.
The young Blues were thrashed 70-12 by the English Championship side at Castle Park last weekend and means they are still without a point from three British and Irish Cup Pool Two matches.
“It can only get better,” said Burnell.
“We were all disappointed last week, a lot of players underachieved and we need to rectify it.
“All credit to Doncaster, they’re a good side who, like every other Championship team, are big and physical and were coming off a couple of losses themselves – so they needed a performance.
“We’re going to strengthen the team in a few positions and I think it’ll be a good game, personally.
“It certainly can’t be any worse than last week.”
Blues’ hopes of qualifying from the pool, which also includes Leinster A and Bristol, now look incredibly slim, but they will hope to use the remaining three matches to give some talented players another chance to shine.
One major positive for Burnell at Doncaster was the performance of Pontypridd flanker Sion Edwards.
“He was phenomenal and man of the match by a country mile,” said Burnell.
“He’s still eligible for Wales U20s and if we only identify one young player who wasn’t already in the pathway then that’s a positive.”
There will also be an old familiar face on show with ex Cardiff Blues and Pontypridd fly-half Simon Humberstone, now with Doncaster, making his return to the House of Pain.
In Pool Three, the Dragons Select side face Yorkshire Carnegie at Ystrad Mynach.
Carnegie won the reverse fixture 43-22 at Huddersfield YMCA last weekend, but the Dragons did at least leave with a try bonus point after a battling performance – while head coach James Chapron felt the final scoreline was harsh on his side.
The Dragons can certainly count themselves a little unfortunate to have just two bonus points from their three matches so far, but will hope to bag their first win in this season’s competition today.
Meanwhile at the Gnoll, Ospreys Select battle Nottingham in Pool One
Tom Smith’s side are still looking for their first point of the campaign, while last weekend’s scheduled clash at Nottingham was postponed on safety grounds due to adverse weather conditions.
Scarlets Select, who are the best placed of the four composite sides to qualify, are in action tomorrow afternoon at Cornish Pirates.
The Scarlets came out on top 18-10 in the reverse clash at Aberavon’s Talbot Athletic Ground on Monday night and means those two sides, plus Ulster A, all have nine points from three matches. Scarlets PS: Tom Prydie; Tom Rogers, Ioan Nicholas, Tom Hughes, Ryan Conbeer; Jacob Botica, Alex Schwarz; Rhys Fawcett, Taylor Davies, Javan Sebastian, Chris Long, Joe Powell, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Dan Davis, Shaun Evans. Replacements: Dafydd Hughes, Steffan Thomas, Scott Jenkins, Bryce Morgan, Gareth George, Jack Maynard, Billy McBryde. Cardiff Blues PS: Patric Lewis; Kyle Evans, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Corey Howells; Ben Jones, Lewis Jones (C); Rhys Carre, Ethan Lewis, Dillon Lewis, Callum Bradbury, Ben Murphy, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Sion Edwards, Sion Bennett. Replacements: Iestyn Harris, Huw Owen, Louis Jones, Owain Lloyd, Alun Lawrence, Jamie Hill, Dafydd Smith. Dragons PS: Dorian Jones; Barney Nightingale, Jarryd Sage, Connor Edwards, Rio Dyer; Angus O’Brien, Owain Leonard; Phil Price, Ellis Shipp, Keagan Bale, Henri Williams, Josh Skinner, Lennon Greggains, Taine Basham, Robson Blake. Replacements; Will Griffiths, Josh Reynolds, Garin Harris, Scott Matthews, Chay Smith, Callum Morris, Toby Fricker.