Last weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Super Rygbi Cymru’s Gwent sides.
Ebbw Vale grabbed all six points in their win against Swansea, while Pontypool and Newport enjoyed bonus-point wins.
This weekend, all three sides are back in action, with Newport and Ebbw Vale on the road to Llandovery and Aberavon respectively, while Pontypool host Bridgend.
Newport and Poolers’ games kick off at 2.30pm, with Ebbw Vale at the later time of 5.15pm.
For the Steelmen, wing Harry Rees-Weldon returns, having missed the majority of last season with injury, while there are also places in the 23 for Dragons Academy members James Talamai and Regan Jones.
Ebbw are without SRC player of the year winner Sion Parry with Joe Rees-Weldon, brother of Harry, wearing his customary seven jersey.
There are also places in the XV for Dom Franchi who starts at 12 while former Dragon Jon Evans starts at nine alongside young fly-half Kai Kinsey.
Newport meanwhile include five Dragons Academy members in their 23 with backs Will Ford, Brogan Leary and Sam Morgan all starting, while Nathan Davies and Tiehi Chatham are amongst the replacements.
Morgan was named Player of the Match last time following his tryscoring full debut and is joined by fellow tryscorers Chay Foster-Smith, Ethan Phillips and Henry Palmer in the 23, while Fin Baker is replaced by former Dragon Oli Andrew.
The Black and Ambers travel to a Llandovery side who will be smarting from their late loss at Pontypool.
Speaking of Pooler, they are once again at home and also include five Dragons Academy members within their 23.
Tiaan Hall who impressed on debut last time out is at hooker, while there is also a spot for tryscorer Rhys Cole in an exciting back three.
Prop Scott Crewe, Flanker Ryan Jones and scrum-half Carter Pritchard are all amongst the substitutes for a Pontypool side who are captained by key man Scott Matthews at blindside.
Ebbw Vale: Morgan Rees; Harry Rees-Weldon, Ethan Phillips (c), Dom Franchi, Dafydd Thomas; Kai Kinsey, Jon Evans; Luke Garrett, Ieuan Morris, Morgan Bosanko, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Alfred Bateman-Lloyd, Joe Rees-Weldon, Ryan Jenkins.
Replacements: James Talamai, Regan Jones, Adam Williams, Chad Thomas, Ben Main, Gruff Tough, Cam Davies, Devon Shorney.
Newport: Carwyn Penny; Sam Morgan, Brogan Leary, Chay Foster-Smith, Olie Andrew; Will Ford, Dafydd Buckland; Ed Thompson, Wade Langley, Ollie Drake, Ethan Phiillips, Callum Bradbury, Josh Reid, Ben Roach (c).
Replacements: Henry Palmer, Tom Workman, Nathan Davies, Tiehi Chatham, Joe Peard, Lucus Welch, Matt O’Brien, Joe Salter.
Pontypool: Ewan Rosser; Rhys Cole, Joel Mahoney, Connor Edwards, Carrrick McDonough; Evan Lloyd, Ellis Lewis; Jake Wisniewski, Tiaan Hall, Owen Popple, Joe Davies, Liam Antrobus, Scott Matthews (c), Ben Williams, Morgan Allen.
Replacements: Tomoya Adachi, Tom Sims, Scott Crewe, Dan Hill, Ryan Jones, Carter Pritchard, Kieran Neek, Ioan Duggan.
