11 Oct TEAM TO FACE ABERAVON
Bridgend Ravens head to Aberavon for another all Ospreys derby in Round 5 of Super Rygbi Cymru this weekend (2:30pm).
Bridgend picked up 10 points from their 2 games against Swansea in the recent set of back to back matches – winning 27pts to 24 at St Helen’s before a comprehensive 38pts to 10 success at the Dunraven Brewery Field just 5 days later. Those victories elevated Bridgend briefly to the top of the league, but they now sit in fourth place following the first four rounds of matches.
Aberavon have one win from their opening set of games, an impressive 24-18 home win over Carmarthen, but lost 29-19 at Newport last time out. They currently sit in ninth place with 5 points from 3 games with their home game against Newport the week before washed out due to a waterlogged pitch at half time.
Last season, Aberavon won both of last season’s matches between the teams, including a 32pts to 26 win at Talbot Athletic Ground last December. The Ravens crossed for three tries that afternoon through Ben Thomas, Edd Howley and Zac O’Driscoll but the Wizards did enough to hold on, despite some a raft of pressure from the visitors. Bridgend haven’t won at the Talbot Athletic Ground since a final day victory in 2018 by 14pts to 17 thanks to a late penalty from Jamie Murphy. You can see highlights from that afternoon by clicking here.
Ospreys Academy wing Rhydian Greenhall is set to make his first appearance in blue and white, selected in the back three alongside Corum Nott and Edd Howley. Tommy Morgan is rewarded with his recent good form from the replacements bench with a start in midfield alongside another regional star, Tom Florence. Ben Burnell and Harvey Nash are paired at half back.
Curtis Greenslade steps up from the bench to start in the front row with Harry Olding and Liam Tobias. Barnaby Waddell and Evan Hill continue their partnership in the second row with a back row comprising Zac O’Driscoll, Thomas Jevons and Alfie Llewellyn.
Bridgend XV: 15. Edd Howley 14. Corum Nott 13. Tom Florence 12. Tommy Morgan 11. Rhydian Greenhall 10. Ben Burnell 9. Harvey Nash
1. Harry Olding 2. Curtis Greenslade 3. Liam Tobias 4. Barnaby Waddell 5. Evan Hill 6. Alfie Llewellyn 7. Zac O’Driscoll (capt) 8. Thomas Jevons
Replacements: 16. Corey Lewis 17. Alex George 18. Marley Lovell 19. Jordan Collier 20. Kyle Harris 21. Chris Williams 22. Iwan Griffith 23. Ryan Wilkins