The Ravens won four of their five games in the pool stages to clinch a final-four place and they were 26-20 winners in the Principality Premiership in the first half of the campaign. Bedwas are aiming to go one better than last season, when they lost in the final to Pontypridd and have won 67% of their games to date this season.
They came through an all-Gwent pool with Cross Keys and Newport, with their victory at Rodney Parade in the final round earning them a ticket into the semi-finals for the second year in succession. Having lost their last two games at home to Merthyr in the National Cup and Tier 1, Steve Law’s side will be hoping to get back to winning ways.
Whoever wins the game will then meet the winners of the second semi-final between Carmarthen Quins and Merthyr. That game takes place at Aberavon’s Talbot Athletic Ground on Wednesday, 15 March.
Bridgend head coach Matt Silva has restored Mathew Edwards at full back in an exciting back three line-up alongside Tom O’Flaherty and Garin Lougher. Joe Gatt makes his fiftieth Bridgend appearance.
The team is led by Ashton Evans at No8, with Tom Morgan moving to openside flanker. The experienced Matthew John comes in at blindside flanker, Kyle Maiden and Jon Kenny get the nod in the second row, while Cai Lewis, Iestyn Merriman and Garyn Daniel the front three.
Bridgend: Mathew Edwards; Tom O’Flaherty, Joe Gatt, Ryan Evans, Garin Lougher; Joe Scrivens, Chris Williams; Cai Lewis, Iestyn Merriman, Garyn Daniel, Jon Kenny, Kyle Maiden, Matthew John, Tom Morgan, Ashton Evans (captain)
Reps: Huw Wilkes, Eddie Drake, Lewis Francis, Gareth Beer, Jon Dawe, Connor Tantum , Jacob Lloyd, Daniel Howells
Bedwas: Aaron Bramwell; Pat Lewis, Ross Wardle, Mike Callow, Matthew John; Richard Powell, 9. Nicky Griffiths (captain); Bryn Toms, Alun Rees, Chris Budgen, Geraint Edmunds, Tom Bell, James Richards, George Lee, Robson Blake
Reps: Dan Preece, Rhys Hutcherson, A.N Other, Andrew Waite, Nathan Hudd, Luke Crane, James Dixon, Connor Edwards
