News

Our 1^st XV will make the trip to Maesteg Harlequins tomorrow for the first time in the National Championship in the hope of getting that all important first victory of the season.

After two incredibly close defeats and a good performance against Pontypool last Saturday the Green and Golds will be desperate to put the early season positives into a win and to start to climb up the ladder.

It will be a tough ask though against a talented Quins outfit who are extremely difficult to beat on their South Parade ground. They were deservedly promoted to the Championship last season after winning the West area play-off.

The Llynfi Valley Club have only played twice this season, where they have picked up a losing bonus point which was in a very tight home affair with fellow promoted Club Ystrad Rhondda. The Rhondda outfit took the spoils that day 18-11. Their other fixture saw them suffer a 44-20 reverse at a rejuvenated Cardiff Met on the opening weekend of the campaign. Last week’s fixture at Tata Steel was postponed due to a wedding effecting most of their squad.

Beddau showed glimpses yet again of the promise they have in last week’s defeat against Pooler and will be encouraged by that performance. Head coach Lee Jarvis and his assistant Chris Bundy and Tom Slater have made a few changes to the squad. In the back line, Hywel Chatham gets his first start at outside half after showing up well at centre in the early games. This allows Zac Byard to switch to full back with Callum Wheeler moving in to the centre. James Davies is unavailable this week and is replaced by the fit again Cody Baker, whilst Christian Bird gets his first competitive start on the opposite wing for the Green and Golds after impressing in recent weeks. Scrum-half Carl Lewis gets his first start after returning to the Club from Ebbw Vale.

Up front Luke Jones returns to the Club to make his Championship debut at tight head prop with Ben Lee and Ben Jones among eleven players in total unavailable for selection this weekend. The other change up front sees Tom Axenderrie start in the back row with the battered and bruised Sam Tiley moving to the bench. Wales Sevens squad member Gareth Hopkins is also called on to a bench and will be joined by new signing Callum Degenhardt.

Kick-off is 2.30pm and the match referee is Mr Jason Morris (Rhigos).

Beddau

Z.Byard, C.Baker, C.Wheeler, L.Egal, C.Bird, H.Chatham, C.Lewis, B.Stephens, C.Tarrant, L.Jones, R.Owens, B.White, T.Axenderrie, J.Goodwin, J.Perkins

Reps – T.Geere, C.Degenhardt, S.Tiley, J.Secher, G.Hopkins.