THE geographical split of the Premiership means that teams don’t have long to wait for another crack at a near neighbour with four Gwent teams clashing today, writes Chris Kirwan.

While Bedwas are keen to make it two from two in the eastern conference, Newport, Cross Keys and Bargoed are hoping to get up and running.

The Black and Ambers head to Bridge Field aiming to reduce the errors that saw them downed 31-19 by Cardiff at Rodney Parade.

Their hopes are boosted by the calming influence of Geraint O’Driscoll, who returns at full-back, while Jon Morris starts at outside centre with Wes Cunliffe on the wing.

Lennon Greggains will add energy in the back row after missing out last week because he made his Dragons bow against Glasgow.

Bedwas have been told in no uncertain terms by head coach Ian Gardner that they must build on their superb performance and victory at Pontypridd.

The management tinker with a winning formula with Bermuda international loosehead Brynley Toms, flankers George Lee and James Richards, scrum-half Luke Crane and wing Ollie Halford coming into the XV.

Dragons back row forward Robson Blake continues at lock with Morgan Allen at number eight.

Keys and Bargoed were both forced to settle for losing bonus points on opening weekend.

The former were stung by a late charge by champions Merthyr at the Wern but will have taken plenty of encouragement from the performance.

They boast two Dragons, full-back Carl Meyer and centre Adam Warren, in the backs while hooker Gerard Ellis, who signed for the Rodney Parade region from London Irish this summer, is on the bench.

The Bulls put Ebbw Vale under the pump late on but couldn’t sneak the spoils. They will look for ex-Keys number eight Ieuan Jones to lead the charge.

Bedwas: A Bramwell, O Halford, R Wardle, A Williams, M John, S Jones, L Crane, B Toms, E Shipp, R Hutcherson, R Blake, C Hudd, G Lee (captain), J Richards, M Allen. Replacements: D Preece, M Dacey, C Budgen, T Basham, G Allen, T Rowlands, R Budina, M Hathaway.

Newport: G O’Driscoll, H Lang, J Morris, T Pascoe, W Cunliffe, M O’Brien, O Davies, M Prosser, W Evans, G Harris, J Little, J Bartlett, R Jenkins, A Everett, L Greggains. Replacements: H Palmer, J Lavender, T Piper, M Burgess, K Tayler, R James, H Simons, A Sabri.

Cross Keys: C Meyer, M Powell, A Warren, B Nightingale, J Goodchild, J Prosser, O Leonard, C Hewlett, R Jones, R Cornock, T Lampard, J Skinner, L Davies, J Thomas, A Powell (captain). Replacements: G Ellis, L Smout, N Buck, M George, D Hughes, C Shephard, J Leadbeater, L Barnett.

Bargoed: M Lewis, L Smalley, J Howells, D Humphries, J Purcell, I Smerdon, J Hallett, R Morgan (captain), L Lippiett, J Williams, M Thomas, L Blacker, L Weyman, G Rogers, I Jones. Replacements: J Pizey, L Birch-Perry, J Mogg, A Herbert, G Clarke, A Coupe, A Gardner-Key, K Brown

Other Premiership East fixture: Cardiff v Merthyr