By Joe Smith
University of South Wales 2nds will look for revenge against Bath Spa University 3rds at the Sport Park in the first game of the season in the EY Western Tier 6 Division 6B.
The last time the two teams met was December 2021 when Bath Spa earned a convincing 31-15 win.
USW managed to finish the season in third place, but they found themselves in a run of bad form going into the final stages of the season when they picked up four points out of a possible 12.
Bath Spa finished just below USW in fourth place but following on from last season a lot has changed for both squads, although familiar Bath Spa face Tia Prelevic, who won team player of the season, remains in the squad and is expected to start against USW this time out.
For USW, only three players remain in the team from last year – Isabelle Taylor, Jess Arnold and Madison Neye.
Former captain Tessa Hepburn has left the squad and it will be interesting to see who is given the armband in today’s game.
Goal-machine Deana Jacks has also left the USW squad after progressing to the 1st team and will be a big miss for the home team this season.
USW aren’t the only team with captaincy changes as last season’s skipper for Bath Spa 3rds, Maia Atwood, is no longer in the squad after being picked up by the university’s 2nd team.
She has passed the armband down to Ellie De’Ath who was part of the team last year.