23 Sep Team to face Pontypridd (a)

Bridgend Ravens are back in Indigo Premiership action on Saturday with another trip to Sardis Road to face Pontypridd (2:30pm).

Both sides lost their opening Indigo Premiership match on the first weekend in September – Bridgend at Aberavon and Pontypridd at home to Cardiff. After the following weekend’s round of fixtures was postponed to pay respect to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the Ravens and Valley Commando’s will both be looking to pick up their first league points on Saturday afternoon.

Last Saturday saw the pair go head to head in the Premiership Cup, and a sparkling display from Tom Smith’s men saw them come away with a 30pts to 26 bonus point victory to send them top of Pool B.

Smith makes four changes to the starting XV that took to the field last time out. Among the backs, Jamie Murphy and Stuart Floyd-Ellis come in at Centre, Dylan Davies at Scrum Half.

There’s just one change in the pack from last week, Dafi Davies gets the starting spot on the Blindside Flank. Owen Jordan, Mark Davey, David Pritchard and Rhys Williams, the former Swansea centre who is on permit from Brackla RFC, are the new names amongst the replacements following last weekend’s victory.

Bridgend Ravens XV:

15. Edd Howley
14. Caine Woolerton
13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis
12. Jamie Murphy
11. Michael Powell
10. Luke Price
9. Dylan Davies

1. Harry Olding
2. Evan Yardley
3. Liam Tobias
4. Hemi Barnes
5. Jack Pope
6. Dafi Davies
7. Zach O’Driscoll (C)
8. Jordan Collier

Replacements:
16. Gareth Harvey
17. Owen Jordan
18. Christian Brooke
19. Mark Davey
20. Aled Evans
21. David Pritchard
22. Paul Short
23. Rhys Williams