PREMIERSHIP
BRIDGEND RAVENS .. 15 LLANDOVERY ............. 34
BRIDGEND Ravens were well beaten by Llandovery at the Bridgendford Brewery Field and now stand little chance of making the top eight teams when the premiership splits in two after Christmas.
After a great run of five victories in the league and Fosters Challenge Cup, culminating in the marvellous 40-10 defeat of high flying Merthyr, they have now lost to Llanelli, Neath and now Llando- very.
Jack Maynard kicked an early penalty for the Drovers but this was soon cancelled out by one from outside half Joe Scriverns.
Llandovery themn took control playing high tempo rugby and worked an overlap for the first try of the match. Ryan Griffiths nearly intercepted but Llandovery managed to get the ball out to Jack Parkinson who was able to race over out wide. Maynard landed a great touchline conversion.
Bridgend looked dangerous while in possession but were lacking a final pass. Scrivens sent Hill plunge over. Pencoed then increased their lead, Thomas drilling the ball into the home 22 where it was moved through their threequarters and left winger David Young raced in out wide. Pencoed’s 10 point lead did not last long however. Outside half Steff Rees raced diagonally through the Pencoed midfield from 22 metres before adding the conversion so Pencoed led 15-12 at the interval.
Pencoed then conceded a “soft “score in the opening minute of the second half, Hill drove through the middle of a lineout from 22 metres and with the Pencoed midfield exposed, the home side crossed to lead 17-15. The a long range penalty just wide before a powerful maul from the Ravens set Bridgend up in the Llandovery 22. Again, the Ravens failed to capitalise and Llandovery showed their offloading skills in the build up to their second try. Neat interplay allowed Corey Baldwin to break clear to score. Maynard converted to make it Amman Valley side’s driving lineout was posing problems for Pencoed and Cwmgors soon increased their lead, this time Rees the benificiary, forcing his way over. A well struck 45 metre penalty from Williams kept Pencoed in touch and within a minute Williams added another to bring the score to 22-21. With the final play, Pencoed appeared to have snatched victory, Russell got a touchdown following a 60 metre kick and chase, Unfortunately for Pencoed, his effort wasruled out by a linesman after consultation with the match official.
On saturday, Pencoed host Resolven at the Recreation ground, 17-3 at half time.
Llandovery’s pace and power caused problems for the Bridgend defence throughout the match. Jack Maynard added the Drovers third try, gathering a loose ball and breaking through to score. Dafydd Hughes scored the bonus point try following another well executed attack and Maynard kicked both conversions to seal victory with 20 minutes still to play.
The Ravens efforts in attack finally yielded further points. Persistent infringements from the Llandovery defence resulted in two yellow cards and Bridgend were able to make the advantage count. Replacement Mike Powell added an injec- tion of pace out wide. A five metre scrum after the Ravens were held up saw Ashton Evans break away to score.
Then Man-of-theMatch Ryan Griffiths touched down in injury time to make it four tries in four games for the inform winger. Scrivens drop kick conversion was to be the last act of a bit- terly cold and disappointing evening.
On Saturday, the Ravens go to St Helens tfor a league match against Swansea and next Wednesday play high flying Aberavon at the Talbot Athletic Ground in the Fosters Challeenge Cup with the return game at the Bridgendford Brewery Field the following Wednesdday.