08 Sep Team to face Aberavon at the Brewery
There’s another derby for Bridgend Ravens this weekend when Aberavon are the visitors to the Dunraven Brewery Field on Saturday afternoon (2:30pm).
Bridgend won their opening league fixture last Saturday, which was their first opening day success since 2013/14. It was a remarkable ending to the game at SA1, with a last minute Luke Price penalty taking victory for the visitors by 28pts to 27. Price kicked superbly all afternoon to take home the Supporters’ Man of the Match award after nailing seven penalties and one conversion to break Swansea hearts. It was a thoroughly deserved win for Tom Smith’s side who will be pleased to have seen their efforts rewarded with 4 league points at a notoriously difficult ground.
Aberavon also got their season off to a winning start by disposing of their closest rivals, Neath at the Talbot Athletic Ground. It was the first fixture between the sides since 2019 and the Wizards eventually saw off the attention of the promoted Championship side with two late tries, winning 27pts to 14. They bagged four tries in the process to pick up a winning bonus point and having added a raft of young talent, and experienced Premiership campaigners such as James Davies to their squad for this season, will certainly have designs of challenging for silverware this season.
The Wizards won both of last season’s encounters between the sides; a 45pts to 14 win at Talbot Athletic Ground before a 18pts to 15 win at the Dunraven Brewery Field on Boxing Day. The Talbot Athletic side have had the upper hand in games between the two teams in recent history – a trend that Bridgend will be keen to break as they look to continue their positive start to the season.
With confidence in camp high following a promising pre-season and a good win away from home last weekend, Tom Smith sticks largely with the squad which picked up that win at St Helen’s. There’s just one change in the backline, with Cameron Ellis taking the place of Mike Powell on the wing.
Amongst the forwards, there’s a Bridgend Ravens debut for former Wales and Ospreys second row, and current club Assistant Coach Bradley Davies in the second row. Alfie Llewellyn moves to No8 and Iestyn Merriman takes his place at 6.
Aled Evans will make his 50th Bridgend Ravens appearance should he appear from the replacements bench.
Bridgend Ravens XV: 15. Edd Howley 14. Caine Woolerton 13. Stuart Floyd Ellis 12. Rhys Williams 11. Cameron Ellis 10. Luke Price 9. Chris Williams
1. Phil Price 2. Gareth Harvey 3. Matholwch Iorwerth Scott 4. Bradley Davies 5. Jack Pope 6. Iestyn Merriman 7. Zac O’Driscoll (captain) 8. Alfie Llewellyn
Replacements: 16. Alex George 17. Harry Olding 18. Liam Tobias 19. Dylan Burrows 20. Aled Evans 21. Connor Tantum 22. Tommy Morgan 23. Joseph Gatt
Tickets for this Saturday’s match are £12 for Adults, £10 for Concessions and Under 16s free.
Club Members who have yet to collect their Membership card will have the ability to do so on Saturday, prior to the game with Aberavon from the Club Shop. Please be aware that the shop is expected to be very busy and that you may have to queue. In order to help speed the process up, please have your Order Number to hand or a form of identification.