NEWBRIDGE are annoyed at having been forced to play their Premier Division game with Bridgend tonight instead of Saturday.

The game was switched because the Celtic Warriors regional side have first claim on Saturday games at the Brewery Field.

And Bridgend were not prepared to switch the game to Pontypridd (the Warriors' other available ground) or Waterton Cross (home of South Wales Police).

The alternative was to have another game postponed (Newbridge have had four put off since the start of November), but the Welfare Ground side didn't want that.

"We didn't want to play on a Friday night, Saturday is the day for rugby," said Newbridge backs coach Jonathan Westwood.

"But because Leighton Samuel won't play Warriors games at Pontypridd we were left with little choice, as we didn't want another game called off."

Nevertheless, Westwood believes his side can travel to Bridgend and make it third time lucky this season. The sides drew 27-27 at Newbridge in October while Newbridge lost 33-17 in the cup at Bridgend a fortnight ago.

"We experimented a fair bit in that cup game to give players a rest, yet we were well in it for a long time," said Westwood

"We did very well playing into a gale-force wind and just before the interval looked as though we would be turning around just 15-10 down with every prospect of winning.

"But one poor decision, a penalty try awarded against us, and then a mistake on our part meant that within two minutes of the second half we were 27-10 down.

"We'll go there tonight with the intention of playing winning rugby. We'll try to expand our game slightly because we have become a bit predictable.

"We'll be looking to play a more complete game - but it's all about winning."

As for the future, Westwood believes with skipper Damien Cooper about to return from his knee injury and last season's player of the year Mike Peard on the way back, Newbridge can look forward to more victories.