07 Apr Team to face Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets

Bridgend Ravens kick off a busy week of Indigo Premiership action with a trip to Parc y Scarlets to face Llanelli on Saturday afternoon (2:30pm).

The Ravens face Llanelli, before travelling to Newport on Wednesday, then are on the road again when they visit St Helen’s to face Swansea next Saturday in a jam packed week of action.

First up are the basement side Llanelli, who have announced that they will not feature in next season’s Indigo Premiership. They have two victories to their name so far this season and sit bottom of the league with 15pts. Their victories were against Carmarthen Quins and Pontypridd, both away from home and they’ll be looking to finish the season in style with their final four games against Bridgend, Newport (twice) and Merthyr.

Llanelli were thumped by 50pts to 7 in their latest outing of last weekend against Merthyr. This followed a 54pts to 7 defeat at Church Bank against Llandovery, leaving the Parc y Scarlets side still chasing a first win in 2023.

Bridgend have tasted back to back defeats in recent weeks, including a first home defeat of 2023 last weekend to Llandovery by 8pts to 31. They were made to pay for their errors in a rare off day at home for Smith’s side and the Ravens will know that they will need to be back at their best to get back to winning ways in West Wales this Saturday.

The Ravens won the reverse fixture between the sides earlier this season in comprehensive fashion at the Dunraven Brewery Field by 45pts to 17. There were seven tries in total for Bridgend that evening to secure a bonus point win. However, the corresponding fixture last season at Parc y Scarlets saw Llanelli pick up their only Indigo Premiership win of the season as they put Bridgend to the sword by 26pts to 14 and Bridgend will need to be wary of a Llanelli backlash.

With a busy schedule ahead, Bridgend are boosted with the return from injury of Iwan Griffith and Luke Price amongst the backline. Curtis Hicks and Rhodri Apsee are others who are making their return from the treatment room and come straight into the starting XV.

Tighthead Matthew Iorwerth-Scott will make his Bridgend Ravens debut, on permit from Cardiff Met, should he appear from the replacements bench.

Bridgend Ravens XV: 15. Edd Howley 14. Iwan Griffith 13. Stuart Floyd Ellis 12. Rhys Williams 11. Mike Powell 10. Luke Price 9. Chris Williams

1. Rhodri Apsee 2. Evan Yardley  3. Curtis Hicks 4. Ben Thomas 5. Kieran Martin 6. Reuben Tucker 7. Zac O’Driscoll (capt) 8. Jordan Collier

Replacements: 16. Gareth Harvey 17. Owen Jordan 18. Matthew Iorwerth-Scott 19. Aled Evans 20. Dafi Davies 21. Connor Tantum 22. Joseph Gatt 23. Caine Woolerton