12 Apr Team to face Newport at Newport Stadium

Bridgend Ravens face a tough assignment on Wednesday evening when they travel to Newport Stadium to face playoff chasing Newport (7:30pm). 

The hosts come into the game in red hot form having beaten Merthyr 33pts to 27 on Saturday at a rare Rodney Parade fixture. They currently sit in 6th place in the Indigo Premiership, 3pts from the playoffs with a game in hand on Ebbw Vale in 4th and two games in hand on 5th placed Aberavon. The Black and Ambers also have a cup final to get excited for when they face Cardiff at Principality Stadium on 23rd April, looking to defend the trophy they won last campaign.

The Ravens won the reverse fixture at the Dunraven Brewery Field by 27pts to 24 in January. Bridgend’s points that afternoon were scored by tries from Chris Williams, Edd Howley and Mike Powell with Paul Short and Luke Price kicking the rest of the home side’s points.

Bridgend will look to go again following Saturday’s comfortable 47pts to 12 success over basement side Llanelli last time out. With three games in seven days, Tom Smith has been forced to reshuffle the squad and makes 12 changes to Saturday’s starting fifteen. Caine Woolerton comes in at 15, having appeared in the position from the bench on Saturday. Ryan Edwards and Cameron Ellis are selected on the wing, with Rhys Williams captaining the side from 12, alongside Joseph Gatt. There’s a first Bridgend Ravens start for Harri Ford at 10, partnering Connor Tantum at half back.

Cardiff University prop Ed Thompson starts at loosehead with Evan Yardley and Liam Tobias, his front row compatriots. Jack Pope is paired with debutant Dylan Burrows in the second row, with Aled Evans, Dafi Davies and Reuben Tucker the back row.

Bridgend Ravens XV: 15.Caine Woolerton 14. Ryan Edwards 13. Joseph Gatt 12. Rhys Williams (capt) 11. Cameron Ellis 10. Harri Ford 9. Connor Tantum

1. Ed Thompson 2. Evan Yardley 3. Liam Tobias 4. Dylan Burrows 5. Jack Pope 6. Aled Evans 7. Dafi Davies 8. Reuben Tucker

Replacements: 16. Jack Walker 17. Harry Olding 18. Rhodri Apsee 19. Kieran Martin 20. Iestyn Merriman 21. Jakob Williams 22. Luke Price 23. Stuart Floyd Ellis