Preview: Aberavon v Bridgend

This Thursday, Aberavon welcome Bridgend to the Talbot Athletic Ground for the Super Rygbi Cymru wild-card play-off, with kick-off at 7:30 p.m.

The winner will progress to the quarter-finals and travel to face Ebbw Vale. In the other wild-card match, Carmarthen Quins host Pontypool.

Bridgend opened their Super Rygbi Cymru campaign with a home win over Carmarthen Quins, earning a try bonus point, before they slipped to a home defeat against Ebbw Vale. The Ravens then lost a narrow 35–37 contest to Aberavon at home but collected two bonus points, and then hit back by beating Aberavon 36–26 away with another try bonus. They followed with away losses to Pontypool and Llandovery, before they grabbed a try bonus point in a home defeat to Newport and repeated that in another try bonus-point loss at home to RGC 1404. Bridgend then drew with Swansea at home, again securing a try bonus point, before they endured away defeats to Ebbw Vale and Cardiff, and then another loss to Cardiff at home. The Ravens recovered to draw away at Carmarthen Quins, before they earned a win over Pontypool at home, picking up two bonus points. They then lost at home to Llandovery, gained a try bonus point in an away defeat to Newport, and claimed a try-bonus-point victory away to Swansea before closing this run with an away loss to RGC 1404 last weekend.

Thursday’s game, which will be broadcast live on S4C Clic, will be officiated by referee Craig Evans, supported by assistants Keith David, Paddy Bateman and Chris Lewis.