By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports
The wait is over! Super Rygbi Cymru is back as we start block two of the competition.
The weekend’s first game kicks off with a bang as the Bridgend Ravens welcome the Carmarthen Quins to the Dunraven Brewery Field on Friday night.
There is always a buzz of excitement whenever a game is played under floodlights. Both teams will be looking to kick off the block with a victory as we build towards the rest of the season.
It is an exciting match-up in Bridgend, leaving the door open for four intriguing betting options.
Bridgend Ravens
The energy and excitement at the Brewery Field are palpable, as robust foundations are being built to reap the rewards in the coming years.
Bridgend showed a lot of promise in the opening stages of the competition. In their seven games, they have won three and lost four.
Scott Baldwin’s side picked up two good wins against Swansea and a solid away victory against Aberavon.
On average, they scored 24 points per game and conceded 30. Bridgend are coming off a loss to Cardiff, where they were defeated heavily at the Arms Park.
They boast an abundance of fantastic talent, with Ben Burnell, Ryan Wilkins, and captain Zac O’Driscoll playing some promising rugby.
Alongside a few athletes who have been making an impact, names like Tom Florence and Evan Hill come to mind.
Many of these players had a run-out as part of the Ospreys ‘A’ team. The Ravens haven’t yet shown signs of becoming a great side capable of making an impact towards the back end of the season.
One of the primary reasons for the extra ounce of excitement around the club is the experience and expertise the coaching staff bring.
Scott Baldwin is at the helm of this new era for the Ravens and brings his expertise home after spending time with the Newcastle Falcons as a defence coach.
Matthew Jones runs Bridgend’s backline, which has the potential to be very explosive with the help of Matthew Morgan.
Bradley Davies, a Welsh rugby legend, oversees the forwards and has a wealth of experience to impart to his players.
As stated, some promising players are on the team and poised to achieve noteworthy results soon. The coaching staff will be looking for a significant result this Friday.
Carmarthen Quins
Carmarthen are in a similar position heading into Friday night’s clash. Like their opposition, they have won three of their last seven.
They will look to prove the bookmakers wrong on Friday as Carmarthen head into the contest as underdogs.
Carmarthen currently sit seventh in the table, scoring 164 points and conceding 221. The side defeated the likes of Pontypool but are coming off a loss to Ebbw Vale.
The Quins have had some talented players step up in a big way this year.
Tom Phillips, the skipper, has been playing well, using all his experience and work rate to make a difference on the pitch.
Another seasoned operator performing excellently is Aled Thomas, who has done a superb job pulling the strings in attack.
Louis Rees is an exciting winger who is powerful and has a natural nose for the try line. Carmarthen must be at their best to upset the odds and defeat Bridgend.
The Bets
There are some intriguing betting options to consider for the game. The best bet is for Bridgend to win.
There is a lot of exceptional talent on the team, and they will have the advantage of playing at the Brewery Field.
There is value in backing Bridgend to win by more than six points, as the Ravens will be looking for a comfortable victory to kickstart their block two campaign.
For those who prefer a high-risk, high-reward scenario, backing the underdog could be fruitful, as Carmarthen have enough talent to secure a big win away from home.
Best Bet: Bridgend to win – 1/2
Value Bet: Bridgend to win by more than six – 10/11
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