05 Dec TEAM TO FACE CARMARTHEN QUINS (A)

Carmarthen Quins welcome Bridgend Ravens to Carmarthen Park on Saturday afternoon for the next round of Super Rygbi Cymru action, as the Ravens look to halt their difficult run and spark a turnaround in fortunes (2:30pm). 

Bridgend head west searching for a response after a tough sequence of results that has seen them fail to win since October. Losses at Pontypool (43-10) and Llandovery (35-17), followed by home reverses against Newport (40-29) and RGC (54-26). That run was halted last Friday as Bridgend and Swansea played out a 29-29 tie at the Electric Brewery Field, a game in which the Ravens were desperately unlucky to not win.

Carmarthen Quins, meanwhile, have shown periods of promise this season and will view their home patch as the perfect platform to push further up the standings. The Quins have proven competitive in several tight encounters and will look to continue their own good run of form at home.

The two sides met twice last season, with Quins winning both matches. Quins won a high-scoring contest at the Brewery despite a late surge from the home side (35pts to 29), and they also took the honours at Carmarthen Park in a closely fought game where Charlie Titcombe inspired the West Walians to victory (32pts to 24).

Bridgend are keen to kick-start their campaign, and Quins will be eager to build consistency. Saturday’s clash promises to be another fiercely contested affair. The game earlier this season was edged by Bridgend 27pts to 24 and this weekend’s match should prove to be another close encounter.

For Saturday’s match, Scott Baldwin makes a number of changes. Cameron Ellis is the change in the back three, replacing the injured Ben Evans, with Chris Williams coming in to start at 9. After a couple of promising appearances from the replacements bench, Rhydian Greenhall comes in at 13.

In the pack, regular skipper Zac O’Driscoll is also missing through injury so it’s Alfie Thomas, Tom Jevons and the returning Benji Williams selected as a back row. Marc Thomas and Nathan Evans are back to bolster the front row options.

Bridgend Ravens XV: 15. Edd Howley 14. Cameron Ellis 13. Rhydian Greenhall 12. Fraser Jones 11. Mccauley Rowley 10. Luke Price 9. Chris Williams (capt)

1. Marc Thomas 2. Tyler Olding 3. Nathan Evans 4. Evan Hill 5. Dylan Burrows 6. Alfie Thomas 7. Thomas Jevons 8. Benji Williams

Replacements: 16. Corey Lewis 17. Harry Olding 18. Owen Hatherill 19. Barnaby Waddell 20. Kyle Harris 21. Daniel Roderick 22. Tommy Morgan 23. Gabe Lacey