Cement render on STS construction board

Hi,
My first time at trying to render. I am building an outdoor kitchen. Contractor built the rear and side walls in block and rendered in sand and cement. I am building front walls in block that will have doors in them to create cupboards either side of the bbq. Plan is to render in same so it matches, plus cheap to do and easy for small area.

However the space under the bbq is not having a front wall, and I want to put a horizontal board under the bbq so I can create a nice rendered cube under the bbq that hides the underside of the bbq and the hose.

Thinking I might put timber battens on side walls and STS concstruction boards above and below screwed and glued, with a 100mm front edge. The boards will be approx 1050x670.

Question is, can I use sand and cement on this small area? I was thinking of metal lath on this to give render a key?

Everything I read says not to, but sounds like its due to movement on timber buildings causing render to crack. If I fix this with enough screws and adhesive, and its on block structure, I hope it wont move.

Thanks for any tips.

Simon

I've used STS, but never rendered on it, I would imagine the cracks would mostly be at edges and corners, if there was to be any.
Water/damp getting to your studwork may be an issue.

What about using cement fibre boards instead?, you can prime an render these.

I thought they were the same thing?

"In a construction environment the STS fibre cement boards offer extensive fire protection, whether you are using as a high spec fire wall system for party walls or something simple like a backing board for a woodburning stove or boiler."

https://www.wickes.co.uk/STS-Construction-Board-1200-x-800-x-12mm/p/225437#

Sorry for a moment thought you meant the blue insulated board they do. Doh!
Think you should be ok.

Cheers.. any need to tape the joints if have a right angled joint between them. and presume best to have a full wood frame to support all 4 sides to prevent movement?

Whats the right way to attach lath to the board?

I’d scrim tape all the joints. You could use a tiny blob of gripfill or similar, not sure what galvanised mesh is normally stuck with, perhaps a blob of tile adhesive or mortar.

Cheers...
Will give it a go.. worse that happens is it cracks and I can fill, or replace... its only small.