Ravens are left to rue missed opportunities
BRIDGEND ................... 13 PONTYPRIDD .............. 15
A HEAVY shower just before kick-off made conditions under foot slippery but that did not stop the home side from advancing upfield with outside half Joe Scrivens putting an early penalty between the posts.
Pontypridd then took control for the majority of the first half.
The Bridgend defence held firm despite the visitors hammering the Ravens line before Ceri Sweeney levelled the scores from the tee.
Pontypridd got their reward for their dominance as the first try of the match arrived late in the first half. Dafydd Lockyer’s pass looked to have gone to ground forward but a hack through from Bradley Coombes saw the centre touchdown under the posts.
Sweeney added the conversion to put confirm Pontypridd’s supremacy in the first period.
Pontypridd continued as they left off, racing out of the blocks, landing their second try just minutes into the second half.
Jordan Liney was shown a yellow card for repeated offences and Ponty kicked for the corner.
Owen Sheppeard crashed over to further the visitors lead. The con- version was nudged wide and Bridgend faced an uphill task to get anything from the game.
Joseph Scrivens added his second penalty of the match on the hour mark. Before Bridgend started to take control, chasing the a couple of scores to sneak the win.
Bridgend kicked a penalty to the corner, looking to drive towards the line, Pontypridd held firm and forced the Ravens to spread the ball wide.
With a penalty advantage, Joseph Scrivens chipped into the in goal area for wing Tom O’Flaherty to chase, the speedster raced beyond the Ponty defence and dived on the ball for the Ravens first try of the match.
Scrivens converted leaving just a two-point deficit. Bridgend had their tails up going into the final 10 minutes. The score was O’Flaherty’s sixth in four games against the Valleys side and his first since returning to the Ravens.
Joseph Scrivens showed off his footwork late on, beating three defenders, sending them the wrong way with his sharp side steps before a slip stopped him in his tracks with just Lewis Williams to beat. Bridgend kept attacking, but unfortunately ran out of time to give Pontypridd their first league win at the Bridgend Ford Brewery Field for three seasons and leave the Bridgend faithful wondering what might have been.
It was a tough pill to swallow for Matt Silva and his squad who will be looking to put in a more accomplished 80-minute performance when high flying Bedwas visit the Bridgend Ford Brewery Field on Saturday for a 2.30pm kick-off.