After a poor finish to the 2011/12 season which saw them finish second from bottom, Bedwas will be looking to start their season with a win while Carmarthen will be aiming to improve on last year’s seventh placed finish.
The Bedwas starting XV looks set to contain as many as nine new faces. In the front row, props Dan Preece and Kristian Gay make their competitive debuts with Ben Roberts returning after a three year absence to fill the hooking berth. Second row Kyle Maiden makes his debut, pairing up with Craig Lodge to add further height to the Bedwas pack.
There is a new half back partnership behind the scrum as prolific goal kicker Richard Powell teams up with Tom Rowlands, a close season capture from Cardiff. In midfield and out wide more new faces look set to figure with the inclusion of new signings Matthew John, Jack Dixon, Ethan Davies and Michael Poole from the Dragons.
Bedwas Vice Chairman David Newton, a former player and committee member at the Carmarthen club, has mixed loyalties but is looking forward to the game.
“I always look forward to seeing my old friends from Carmarthen and will be delighted to welcome them to Bedwas,” he said.
For Carmarthen, it’s a case of seeing where they are after a successful pre-season.
“We’re both quite similar teams so we’ll have to wait and see who comes out on top,” said head coach Steve Williams.
“It’s a huge test against Bedwas to see where we are.
“We’ve got no new injuries and everything has gone well in pre-season so we’ll see what happens.”
Bedwas XV against Carmarthen Quins:
15 Ethan Davies 14 Matthew John 13 Ross Wardle 12 Jack Dixon 11 Michael Poole 10 Richard Powell 9 Tom Rowlands; 8 Deri Mattravers 7 Sam Feehan 6 Phillip Sargent 5 Craig Lodge 4 Kyle Maiden 3 Kristian Gay 2 Ben Roberts 1 Dan Preece.
Replacements:
Rhys Hutcherson, Mathew Pettit, Phil Rees, James Thomas, James Benjamin, Liam Davies, Stuart Thomas, Aaron Coundley.
Carmarthen Quins XV to follow.
