THE only sides not to pick up any points on the first weekend of the new Principality Premiership season – Bridgend and Cross Keys – will be keen to get off the mark tomorrow when they clash at the Brewery Field (2.30pm).

The two teams suffered almost identical fates last Saturday as they both lost on home soil against newly-promoted clubs and scored just three points each in the process.

In fact, there was just two points difference between the margins of defeat for the Ravens and Keys – they were beaten 20-3 and 18-3 by RGC 1404 and Merthyr respectively.

Keys head coach Greg Woods and Bridgend counterpart Matthew Silva, the former Newport, Newbridge and Pontypool player, both know their teams are better than those results.

Woods fully acknowledged Merthyr did a job on his men at Pandy Park and expects a much-improved display this time out.

“I felt we prepared well for Merthyr, we just executed our game poorly on the day,” he said. “The boys are hurting and want to put things right.

“We’ve been trying to improve our attacking game all summer but the conditions just didn’t allow us to show that last weekend.

“With all the possession Merthyr had they only scored two tries through driving lineouts so we weren’t blown away, but we didn’t cause them any problems.

“We’ve got to be better against Bridgend and we expect to play more on Saturday.”

Former captain Leon Andrews is set to return to the Keys squad after missing the opener through injury.

Woods added: “It’s a big boost for us to have Leon available again and everyone is looking forward to the game.

“We had some big battles with Bridgend last season and fixtures at the Brewery Field are always competitive.”