22 Dec Team to face Swansea at the Brewery

Posted at 11:05h in 2023/24 Website News by

Bridgend Ravens host Swansea at the Dunraven Brewery Field on Saturday in their final Indigo Premiership home fixture of 2023 (2:30pm). 

The Ravens will be looking to return to winning ways following a disappointing fortnight where they were knocked out of the Premiership Cup, ironically by Swansea (27pts to 16) before a home hammering against Newport last time out (27pts to 57). Prior to that, Bridgend had won three league games in succession and they know they’ll need to be at their best to beat a rejuvenated Swansea side.

The All Whites are bang in form with two wins from their last two games. They beat Bridgend a fortnight ago before following that up with a 27pts to 22 victory against Neath at the Gnoll last Saturday. Swansea are currently 10th in the league, with three wins from their eleven games to date.

Last season in the corresponding fixture, it was Bridgend that took the spoils in an entertaining 22pts to 14 victory. Bridgend scored tries that afternoon through Stuart Floyd Ellis, Edd Howley and Gareth Harvey and will need more of the same on Saturday if they are to pick up victory again.

With regular outside halves Luke Price and Paul Short unavailable, Rhys Williams deputises in the 10 jersey again. There is some welcome news with the return from injury of Caine Woolerton who returns from injury to start on the wing. Connor Tantum also comes into the back division.

In the forwards, Jack Pope and Reuben Tucker are starters in the only changes from last week’s starting pack.

There’s set to be a landmark appearance amongst Bridgend’s replacements with Owen Jordan in line to make his 100th appearance for the club should he appear from the replacements bench.

Bridgend Ravens XV: 15. Mike Powell 14. Caine Woolerton 13. Stuart Floyd Ellis 12. Tommy Morgan 11. Cameron Ellis 10. Rhys Williams 9. Connor Tantum

1. Harry Olding 2. Evan Yardley 3. Matholwch Iorwerth Scott 4. Ben Thomas 5. Jack Pope 6. Reuben Tucker 7. Zac O’Driscoll (capt) 8. Jordan Collier

Replacements: 16. Gareth Harvey 17. Owen Jordan 18. Curtis Hicks 19. Hemi Barnes 20. Iestyn Merriman 21. Alfie Llewellyn 22. Chris Williams 23. Joseph Gatt