Newport could return to the top of the Super Rygbi Cymru table tonight (Friday 30 October – 7.30pm) if they can max out on points when they face Carmarthen Quins in west Wales.
The Black & Ambers are currently four points behind league leaders Cardiff in third place but have a game in hand after they Gwent derby clash with Pontypool fell foul of the weather.
The top two teams, Cardiff and Ebbw Vale, meet at the Arms Park tomorrow, so Ty Morris’ men will be gunning for as many points as they can muster to stay in contention at the top.
Not that the Quins are going to make it easy for them. Buoyed by their win over Aberavon last weekend they have been given a big influx of Scarlets Academy players for the game against the inaugural SRC champions.
Scarlets’ back row duo of Osian Williams and Joe Denman join the experienced Lewys Millin in the scrum, where tight head prop Connor Allen makes his 150th Quins appearance. An exciting backline includes six young Scarlets.
Tenby products Alfie Luger and Madoc Evans line-up as the starting halfbacks, Ashton Owen and Jayden Brown link-up in midfield, Thomas Williams and Callum Woolley are on the wings with Iori Badham at fullback.
Swansea return to St Helen’s for their third outing at their newly refurbished home when they host Bridgend. The two teams drew 26-26 earlier in the campaign.
The Whites were impressive 26-3 winners over Cardiff last time out, while Bridgend felt the full force of the backlash from that result as they were beaten 31-0 at the Arms Park last weekend.
Former Scarlets, Ospreys and Wales U20 wing Ryan Conbeer returns for the Ravens after missing last weekend’s defeat in Cardiff, while Lloyd Wilkins makes his comeback alongside him in the back line.
TEAMS
Swansea: Josh Phillips (co-captain); Brandon Wood, Callum Carson, Joe Thomas, Harvey James; Luke Scully, Kai Inker; Morgan James, Osian Oliver, Kian Hire, Theo Currie, Cai Arnold, Sam Morgan Callum Bowden (co-captain), Jacob Hopkins
Reps: Jamie Cox, Tom Crockett, Kamren Harris, Chris Thomson, Jake Roberts, Matthew Aubrey, Luke Price, Jack HoskinsBridgend: Lloyd Wilkins; Cameron Ellis, Ryan Conbeer, Ryan Wilkins, Mccauley Rowley; Ben Burnell, Harvey Nash; Marc Thomas, McKenzie Scales, Callum Donoghue, Proud, Cai Davies, James Richards, Benji Williams, Thomas Jevons (captain), Ioan Davies
Reps: Dom Manaseitava, Alex George, Harry Peckett, Rhys Dauncey, Morgan Boobyer, Zac O’Driscoll, Fraser Jones, Joseph GattCarmarthen Quins: Iori Badham; Callum Woolley, Jayden Brown, Ashton Owen, Thomas Williams; Madoc Evans, Alfie Luger; Rhys Fawcett, Lewis Morgan, Connor Allen, Gabe Cahsay, Lee Taylor (captain), Osian Williams, Joe Denman, Lewys Millin
Reps: Keanu Evans, Hudson Nevin, Ifan James, Ryan Bean, Iestyn Richards, Luca Giannini, Aron Hemmings, Scott DaviesNewport: Sam Morgan; Fin Bakjer, Chay Foster-Smith, Joe Salter, Noah Morgan; Llew O’Brien, Dafydd Buckland; Tom Devine, Henry Palmer, Ollie Drake, Joe Peard, Callum Bradbury, Josh Skinner, Hunter Ward, Ben Roach (captain)
Reps: Wade Langley, Ed Thompson, Luke Yendle, Gethyn Cannon, Josh Reid, Tiger Chatham, Lucus Welch, Steff Davies