20 Mar Team to face Llandovery at the Electric Brewery Field

Bridgend Ravens welcome Llandovery to the Electric Brewery Field this Saturday as the race for the end of season playoffs intensifies (2:30pm). 

The Ravens picked up a much needed victory over Llandovery last time out, with an epic second half comeback securing a 50pts to 27 win over Tom Hancock’s Pontypool. That six pointer elevated Bridgend to eighth place and into the final home wildcard playoff place – with games against Newport, RGC and Swansea all away from home to finish the regular season following this weekend’s match.

Llandovery were pipped by Newport in another epic between the two in the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup Final at the Arms Park in their last match, 28pts to 25. They have had another impressive season though, currently in third place in the SRC league with 9 wins from 14 games to date. One of those victories was an early season success against Bridgend, by 35-17. They also beat the Ravens 33-17 in a Pool B cup tie in early February, also at Church Bank.

Last season’s corresponding fixture was a nail-biter; Corey Lewis’s last-play try, converted by Price, sealed a 34pts to 33 win for Scott Baldwin’s side. That result secured Bridgend a home wildcard playoff, a feat they will look to repeat this campaign as the season reaches its business end.

Saturday marks a landmark day for scrum half Chris Williams as he makes his 250th appearance for Bridgend Ravens. There are a few changes to the side which played Pontypool – Edd Howley is back from injury and takes his place on the wing with Joseph Gatt shifting to centre with Tom Florence unavailable.

In the forwards, there’s a Bridgend Ravens return for Wales prop Ben Warren, who last featured for the club in 2022. He has Ospreys compatriots Alfie Thomas and Evan Hill in the pack alongside him, with Zac O’Driscoll making a welcome return to the starting lineup.

Bridgend Ravens XV: 15. Fraser Jones 14. Edd Howley 13. Joseph Gatt 12. Tommy Morgan 11. Mccauley Rowley 10. Ben Burnell 9. Chris Williams

1. Harry Olding 2. Corey Lewis 3. Ben Warren 4. Alfie Thomas 5. Evan Hill 6. Kyle Harris 7. Zac O’Driscoll (capt) 8. Thomas Jevons

Replacements: 16. McKenzie Scales 17. Alex George 18. Nathan Evans 19. Barnaby Waddell 20. Morgan Boobyer 21. Harvey Nash 22. Lloyd Wilkins 23. Ryan Wilkins