You have to go back to 2022 for the last time Bridgend beat Ebbw Vale at the Brewery Field, but Ravens head coach Scott Baldwin is setting his sights far higher than merely taking one top scalp this season.
Having opened their Super Rygbi Cymru campaign with a last gasp 27-24 win over Carmarthen Quins last weekend the goal is to keep on winning and to break into the top half of the table.
“Last season I believed that on our day we could beat anyone, which we showed at the back end of the campaign,” admitted Baldwin, whose side finished seventh.
“In the middle part of the season because of the lack of depth in our squad we had players coming on who were surviving, while other teams were bringing on players who were thriving.
“But by the final few rounds those same players had found their feet and were making a bigger contribution, and I felt we were growing. I hope the players now believe in their abilities.
“Going into this season I think the players can go as far as they want to go – but we as coaches can only take them so far. If they really want to back themselves and raise standards there is no reason why they can’t finish in the top half.”
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Some astute summer signings have improved the quality of the Bridgend squad and one of them, outside half Fraser Jones, get another start at No 10.
It is a game in which his ability will be tested to the maximum by an Ebbw side who were beaten finalist last season.
“The biggest thing I learned in my time in a pro game was that the devil is in the detail at that level. In the SRC, given the limited amount of time you have with the players, sometimes the detail can be the devil,” added Baldwin.
“When I first came to Bridgend I made the focus 100 per cent about us and what we can control, how we attack and how we defend.
"In the middle part of the season, due to being semi-pro and not having enough numbers, we were overplaying in games because in training we never had a backfield.
“We threw five balls into touch in the game against Carmarthen Quins. Everything we were doing arose out of how we were training
“I never want to instill a fear of failure in my players, but we had to change a few things.
"Now we are a bit further down the track and the players have gained more experience at this level I think things will improve.”
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The Steelmen dominated both games between the two clubs last season, winning 34-18 at the Brewery Field and 48-17 at home.
Baldwin has changed his two props, but kept faith with the rest of the side that delivered against Carmarthen.
Newport will have last season’s man of the match from the SRC final, Jac Lloyd back at No10 for their trip to Aberavon.
Lloyd’s super season was crowned by being given a chance to break into the Dragons squad and with the SRC Player of the Year award.
The Black & Ambers were beaten at home by Llandovery in the opening game in their defence of the title they won to mark their 150th anniversary.
The Drovers welcome Swansea and Pontypool host RGC.
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