Neath retain control to gain revenge over Ravens
BRIDGEND Ravens lost a tight, hard fought match between two evenly matched teams last Friday at a chilly Gnoll.
The Ravens had won narrowly at the ground earlier in the season in the Fosters Challenge Cup but on this occasion, the Welsh All Blacks were deserving winners because they exercised more control overall.
The Ravens took the lead with a penalty by Joe Scrivens but this was quickly cancelled out by a long range effort from Ed Howley, brother of Maesteg outside half Laurance.
Neath had an edge in the scrums and the Ravens’ cause wasn’t helped by the loss of tight head Keiron Jenkins through injury.
Neath exerted pressure through their forwards and took the lead when winger Aaron Grabham, the Premiership’s top try scorer, made full use of a loose Bridgend kick. The Pyle product from a famous rugby family collected his own kick ahead to touch down for his 12th try in all games this season, Howley added the conversion.
A second penalty by the impressive Scrivens brought it back to 10-6 and right on half-time, slightly against the run of play, Bridgend took the lead with a third try in as many games for winger Ryan Griffiths as the Neath defence paused for a forward pass,
On the resumption, Neath were soon on the offensive and wasted little time in getting back in front as Howley kicked his
second penalty.
Bridgend defended stubbornly but, after conceding five penalties on their own line and picking up a yellow card. referee Mr David Cambourne awarded Neath a penalty try converted by Howley.
Scrivens kicked his third penalty from long-range to narrow the gap but Neath were soon back on the attack with replacement Chris Morgans kicking to keep them in Ravens territory.
Bridgend’s excellent defence kept Neath out but they could not break out and Neath sealed a deserved victory with another Howley penalty which left the Ravens with nothinbg to show for their efforts.
The Ravens are in action again tomorrow (Friday) night when Llandovery are the visitors to the Bridgendford Brewery Field (ko 7.30pm)