Head Coach Richard Hodges praised an impressive debut victory for Cardiff Blues Premiership Select (CBPS) as they defeated the Ospreys Premiership Select (OPS) in a friendly at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.
Ben Roach (2), Lewis Jones, Chris Didomidis, Macauley Cook and Jevon Groves all crossed the whitewash as CBPS warmed up for the new British & Irish Cup season with a 43-13 win on home soil.
And Hodges, who will lead the coaching team this season, believes it showed the appetite of the players to perform for the new team.
“It was an impressive outing by all 27 players involved and we ended up with 79% possession and 51% territory and conceded five penalties all game,” he said.
“Huge credit to the boys it is interesting because these boys train together but don’t necessarily play together. It’s an opportunity they really welcomed to be able to play with the boys they are working with day in day out.
“With the B&I Cup this year we really wanted to make sure it was a competition the players really wanted to be a part of. I think you have seen that in abundance here tonight,” he added.
“There will be some sore bodies, but the biggest factor for me is everyone will come in on Monday in preparation for Nottingham eager to be part of it.
“We have got off on a good start, had a good victory and the boys have played well. We dominated in key areas which will be important for the B&I Cup, particular in that front five. We are in a good place.”
CBPS open the cup season with a home game at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park next Saturday and Hodges is urging fans to get behind the new format.
“I would have thought the supporters who came down to watch would want to come and watch again,” he said.
“It was an impressive showing from the boys. It is a new concept and it will take its time, I understand all the politics that surround it but my job is to get a winning team on the pitch.
“Nottingham are the form team of the English Championship, they have been away to Jersey and beaten London Welsh. They didn’t have the best start to the season but they have turned it around,” he added.
“We have done our homework and we know what it will bring. Certainly at home on the pitch we have we need to play a certain style of rugby and I think we have seen a taster of that here.
“We will be strong and we will back ourselves and it is a reflection of the pathway - the boys have done themselves proud in the friendly.”