Bridgend Ravens suffer another disappointing loss
CARMARTHEN QUINS 34 BRIDGEND RAVENS .... 8
BRIDGEND Ravens ended the first half of the season with another disappointing defeat, this time at Carmarthen Park.
They have won just four of 15 Premiership games but should do better in the second half when playiing only the teams who finished in the bottom eight and they also are doing well in the Foster’s Challenge Cup.
The Ravens went 14-0 down in the first 15 minutes. Two penalty tries for the hosts, converted by Craig Evans, left Bridgend with a mountain to climb. Ryan Evans was adjudged to have taken his man out chasing back following a kick through and was shown a yellow card as the first penalty try arrived. The second was awarded after a Bridgend scrum deep in their own half. As the scrum wheeled the referee headed between the posts again which seemed harsh.
Bridgend managed to build some phases and worked their way into the Carmarthen 22 for the first time. Joseph Scrivens kicked a penalty to get them on the board as the first quarter came to a close.
Lee Williams added the hosts’ third try before the break thanks to a little chip. The winger dived on the ball to score.
The Ravens efforts late on deserved a try following a fantastic break down field. Jon Kenny was the recipient of the last pass and the second row was stopped just short by the scrambling Quins defence. Quick on the whistle, the referee awarded Carmarthen a penalty to halt the Ravens most promising attack of the half and they trailed 19-3 at the interval.
Bridgend came out of the blocks in the second half trying to launch the fightback. Connor Tantum, picking up the pace, tapped a penalty and made his way into the Quins 22. Carmarthen illegally spoiled the Bridgend attack and the Ravens kicked the penalty to the corner. As the lineout drive edged towards the Carmarthen line, the hosts’ second row Josh Helps was shown a yellow card for collapsing the maul. Bridgend continued hunting for their first try which eventually arrived when the impressive Gareth Beer drove over.
Craig Evans added a penalty for the hosts following a period of impressive defending from the Ravens. The Quins pressure would eventually prove to be too much to hold out as a quick tap penalty allowed Morgan Griffiths to race clear to grab a bonus point score for the Quins.
Carmarthen made sure of the win with a fifth try, this time a stinging counter attack from their own 22 was finished again by Griffiths.
The Ravens will now look forward to the Foster’s Challenge Cup where they currently sit top of Pool 4 and take on Cardiff at the BT Arms Park tonight (Wednesday) before the final pool game against Neath at home on January 18/19/20.