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Busy week ahead in Magners League
7 September 2008, 6:54 pm
By WRU
There is a busy week ahead in the Magners League with midweek, and weekend matches coming up in the next seven days
Following an opening weekend in which no home team recoded a victory, two round 5 games are brought forward to midweek; on Tuesday Ospreys host Cardiff Blues - the visitors have only once tasted victory at the Liberty Stadium, in December 2005 - whilst on Wednesday Newport Gwent Dragons welcome a team who completed the double over them last season, Llanelli Scarlets, to Rodney Parade.

This is a fourth successive home game for Newport Gwent Dragons, but they were defeated 6-12 by Glasgow Warriors at Rodney Parade on Friday. Both Dragons and Scarlets each had an even won 3, lost 3 record against fellow Welsh regions last season.

Llanelli Scarlets ended a five game losing run with their 16-9 victory over Ulster at Ravenhill last Friday. Scarlets took both encounters against the Dragons last season: 30-23 at Stradey Park and 15-13 at Rodney Parade.

The Ospreys sit at thee top of the Magners League table courtesy of points difference following their 16-3 away victory in Connacht on Friday evening. Ospreys only defeat at Liberty Stadium against a fellow Welsh region in their last seven such encounters was 9-14 to Scarlets almost exactly twelve months ago.

Cardiff Blues are unbeaten in their last six matches in the Magners League after their 16-all draw with reigning champions Leinster at the Arms Park on Saturday. The Blues have won their last three away games in the Magners League and another victory would set a new Blues record on the road in the league.

The last five meetings between the two regions have all gone the way of the home side on the day, whilst the Blues only victory so far at Liberty Stadium was 28-9 on 22 December 2005.

Next weekend's round 2 games open with Ulster visiting the Arms Park, where Cardiff Blues will hope to continue their home winning streak whilst Ulster will have to overturn recent results as they have not won in the principality for 2 years.

Also on Friday Leinster host a resurgent Edinburgh team who, following their defeat by European champions last week, will again be looking to overcome Irish opposition. Edinburgh will have a tough task on their hands as Leinster have not been defeated at home since October 2007.

The final game on Friday night sees Ospreys visit Glasgow Warriors, where all eyes will be on Dan Parks, should he be selected, to see if he can overtake David Humphreys to become the Magners League all time top points scorer.

On Saturday in what promises to be the emotional highlight of the weekend, the last scheduled Magners League game takes place at Stradey Park when Connacht are the visitors to the famous old ground.

The round wraps up on Sunday when Newport Gwent Dragons travel to Musgrave Park. Dragons face a difficult task as since March 2003 the only visiting Welsh team to win on Munster soil is Cardiff Blues, who did so twice in 2007.

 

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