This week sees the Black and Ambers make the short trip to Brewery Field with doubts over a number of players in key positions.
The injury bug seems to have struck Newport as it did last season with centre, prop and back row being problem positions. South African Will Richards is given a start at inside centre while Newport welcome Pontypool prop and captain Jamie Jeune into Saturday’s 22.
Andrew Quick starts at scrum-half while speedy youngster Ashton Hewitt wins a place on the wing. He is one of two 17 year olds in Newport’s starting line-up, the other being promising prop Alex Jeffries.
Matches between the sides are usually close and keenly contested with the Black and Ambers leading the overall record between the two sides.
Newport suffered their worst ever season in the current Premier League last year which saw Bridgend record a rare double over the Black and Ambers.
Indeed, Newport fans are still asking themselves how Newport lost the last match at Rodney Parade when leading 30-18 with five minutes to go only to lose 30-32. Kristian Phillips ran in his third try and Osprey Canadian Chauncey O’Toole scored a breakaway try to stun the Rodney Parade crowd.
Bridgend: 15 Jamie Murphy 14 Luke Morgan 13 Nathan Edwards 12 Steve Winn 11 Tom Grabham 10 Matthew Morgan 9 Chris Williams, 1 Marc Thomas 2 Ashleigh James 3 Owen Williams 4 Josh Jacas 5 Lee Davies 6 Jonathan Vaughan (c) 7 Arthur Ellis 8 Scott Hicks.
Replacements: Dan Sutter, Jonathan Thomas, Chris Francis, Andrew Waite, Alun Evans, Ben Thomas, Glen Lewis, Ashley Evans.
Newport: 15 A Awcock 14 E Frewen 13 G O’Driscoll 12 W Richards 11 A Hewitt 10 S Sneddon 9 A Quick, 1 D Pattison 2 R Prosser 3 A Jeffries 4 D Rosser 5 A Frampton 6 S Waldron 7 C Attwell (c) 8 R Coombs.
Replacements: A Brown, J Jeune, R Jones, C Townsend, W Hodnett, T Hancock, J Leadbeater
Referee: Neil Perkins
