After his try-scoring exploits in last Friday’s win over Sale Sharks, Dan Baker has been named in the shortlist for the LV= Breakthrough Player Award.
With the LV= Cup Semi Finalists confirmed, the last two nominees for this season's LV= Breakthrough Player Award have joined the shortlist, and will be put to a public vote on www.LV.com/rugby
Two Welsh representatives complete the final eight after Round Four with Baker and Owen Williams of Cardiff Blues joining the shortlist. They are accompanied by wildcard nominees Ollie Devoto of Bath Rugby and Saracens' Matt Hankin who recorded the best overall statistics for a back and forward respectively, throughout the LV= Cup pool stages.
Fans have until March 10 to cast their vote for this year's award. The 2014 LV= Breakthrough Player Award winner will be announced prior to the LV=Cup Final at Sandy Park, Exeter on March 16 and LV= will donate £1,000 to a grassroots rugby initiative of the winner's choice.
In a high-scoring and entertaining affair, Ospreys edged out Sale on Friday evening. At the forefront of the Ospreys' attacking prowess was number eight Dan Baker, who managed nine defenders beaten from 14 carries. This included an initial break and try scored, while in total he gained 58 metres; an average gain of over 4m per carry. In defence he was nearly almost faultless, missing just one of eight attempted tackles.
His match stats are below:
Carries – 14
Metres – 58
Defenders beaten – 9
Initial breaks – 1
Tackles – 7/8
Tries - 1
2013/14 LV= Breakthrough Player nominees:
Round 1: Jonah Holmes (London Wasps) and Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers)
Round 2: Sam Jones (London Wasps) and Ben Ransom (Saracens)
Round 3: Zach Kibirige (Newcastle Falcons) and Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Round 4: Dan Barker (Ospreys) and Owen Williams (Cardiff Blues)
Wildcard nominees: Ollie Devoto (Bath) and Matt Hankin (Saracens)
The LV=Cup, watch the next generation break through. For more information on the LV= Breakthrough Player Award and voting, visit www.LV.com/rugby
About the LV= Breakthrough Player Award
Launched in September 2011, the LV= Breakthrough Player Award is designed to recognise the wealth of impressive young talent on show in the competition. Two players from each round, along with two 'wildcard' players, who have strong overall competition statistics; compiled by Opta, will form a shortlist which will be submitted to a fan vote on www.lv.com/rugby. Fans will vote for the winner of the LV= Breakthrough Player Award from the end of Round Four until 9am on Monday March 10. The winner will be announced prior to the LV=Cup Final and LV= will donate £1,000 to a grassroots rugby initiative of the winner's choice.