It’s been a frustrating start to the season for the Ravens, who can count themselves unlucky to be on 0 points.
Despite a hammering against Cardiff, much improved performances against Carmarthen Quins and Pontypridd have given Bridgend supporters reason to be optimistic ahead of the visit of he Gwent side.
Despite Newport completing the double over Bridgend last year, the Ravens have won four of the previous six encounters between the sides, including four straight games between 2011 and 2013.
Paul Young and Mike Hook stick largely with the side which faced Pontypridd last weekend. Lloyd Evans and Matthew Dwyer return to the starting team, with Adam Williams coming back onto the bench after injury. The Newport side includes former Raven Jamie Murphy, who makes the substitutes bench.
Newport travel to Bridgend on the back of their first league win of the season – a hard earned victory against Ebbw Vale at Eugene Cross Park.
While Bridgend have lost all of their league matches so far Newport will recall winning 46-24 there last season and then going on to complete the double. They will of course not be taking Bridgend lightly as wins at the Brewery Field are often hard to come by.
The Black & Amber’s have a number of players unavailable through injury or other reasons but still have a strong looking squad. They also welcome back the ever popular Sam Waldron who returns after a fairly long term injury and 17-year-old Barney Nightingale who makes his second appearance for the club.
Bridgend Ravens: James Dixon (c), Mike Powell, Tom Morgan, Steve Winn, Tom O’Flaherty, Ryan Evans, Tom Habberfield; Marc Thomas, Matthew Dwyer, Cai Lewis, Kyle Evans, Ben Jones, Olly Cracknell, Lloyd Evans & Dai Barry
Replacements: Ashleigh James, Jon Thomas, Mitchell Auger, Rory Thornton, Zac O’Driscoll, Chris Williams, Adam Williams, Owen Howe.
Newport : G O’Driscoll, A Hewitt, B Nightingale, D Franchi, J Morris, M O’Brien, A Quick, D Pattison, D Rogers, J Monk, Adam Brown, D Partridge, R Jenkins, O Griffiths (capt), S Feehan.
Reps : W Evans, O Evans, A Jeffries, S Waldron, S Cross, J Murphy, J Lewis, J Mogg.
