12 Sep Team to face Carmarthen at the Brewery

Posted at 07:29h in 2025/2026 Website News by

Bridgend Ravens kick off their Super Rygbi Cymru campaign with a home match against Carmarthen Quins on Saturday afternoon (2:30pm). 

The Ravens had a productive pre-season with a competitive draw against National 1 side Plymouth (16pts to 16) before beating Tondu (24pts to 5) and Bridgend Athletic (21pts to 7) in an entertaining double header at the Brewery a fortnight ago.

Carmarthen picked up a solitary victory in their full pre season matches, beating Aberystwyth 33pts to 5 and fell to a pair of defeats – at Birmingham Moseley (45pts to 19) and Aberavon (13pts to 12). They did however, beat the Scarlets 7pts to 5 last weekend in a 40 minute clash at Llandovery.

The Quins will be hoping for an improved campaign this season and have recruited well, including the signing of former Wales wing Steff Evans from the Scarlets. They’ll also be boosted with a strong allocation of 15 Scarlets Academy players,

Quins did the double over Bridgend last season – including a 35pts to 29 defeat at the Brewery. The Ravens fought back admirably that evening but Charlie Titcombe produced a man of the match performance to edge his side to victory.

For Saturday’s match, Scott Baldwin gives three players their competitive debuts for the club within his starting fifteen. Fraser Jones, James Richards and Benji Williams will all feature for the club for the first time in a competitive fixture, along with hooker Tyler Olding who makes his first competitive appearance for the club since joining on permanent terms this summer.

Elsewhere, Chris Williams leads the side in the absence of regular skipper, Zac O’Driscoll, who continues his recovery from injury.

Bridgend Ravens XV: 15. Edd Howley 14. Jake Thomas 13. Joseph Gatt 12. Tommy Morgan 11. Mccauley Rowley 10. Fraser Jones 9. Chris Williams (capt)

1. Harry Olding 2. Tyler Olding 3. Liam Tobias 4. James Richards 5. Evan Hill 6. Alfie Llewellyn 7. Thomas Jevons 8. Benji Williams

Replacements: 16. Evan Yardley 17. Marc Thomas 18. Nathan Evans 19. Barnaby Waddell 20. Dylan Burrows 21. Harvey Nash 22. Luke Price 23. Lloyd Wilkins