03 Oct Team to face Aberavon (a)

Bridgend Ravens look to bounce back from Thursday’s late defeat against Aberavon when they face the same opposition, this time at Talbot Athletic Ground on Saturday (2:30pm).

The sides met as recently as last Thursday when Joe Gage’s late try swung the game back in Aberavon’s favour and saw them avenge last season’s two close run defeats by winning a tight tie 37pts to 35.

That win made it two wins in three games for Jason Hyatt’s Wizards, following an epic 28pts to 24 win over Newport the week previous. Bridgend picked up two points in that defeat, at least giving them something to take away from the game which they’ll feel they perhaps should have won after squandering the lead twice.

Bridgend won the corresponding fixture last season, another close fought game which saw them win 29pts to 28 – that was Bridgend’s first win at Talbot Athletic Ground since 2018.

This Saturday’s game is set to be another epic encounter between the two local rivals, and Scott Baldwin resists the temptation to make wholesale changes. The backline remains unchanged and amongst the forwards, Bridgend are boosted with the return of influential skipper, Zac O’Driscoll, Dylan Burrows moves from 6 to the second row.

Bridgend Ravens XV: 15. Lloyd Wilkins    14. McCauley Rowley    13. Joseph Gatt    12. Ben Burnell    11. Ben Evans    10. Fraser Jones    9. Harvey Nash   1. Marc Thomas    2. Tyler Olding    3. Nathan Evans    4. Barnaby Waddell    5. Dylan Burrows    6. Thomas Jevons    7. Zac O’Driscoll (captain)    8. Benji Williams

Replacements: 16. Corey Lewis    17. Harry Olding    18. Liam Tobias    19. Alfie Thomas    20. James Owen    21. Chris Williams    22. Luke Price    23. Edd Howley