14-man Ravens hold on to claim bonus win
ful offload handed Jamie Murphy a simple run in. Murphy converted both.
An almost faultless first half performance was blighted close to the halftime whistle when Tom Morgan was shown a red card following an off the ball incident. Cardiff managed to grab a second try as Cardiff Blues’ Harri Millard broke through the Ravens defence to make it 21-12 at the break.
The second half started at a blistering pace with three tries in the opening seven minutes. Cardiff struggled to complete their exit from the Bridgend kickoff and the Ravens made them pay. Matthew John made good ground from the back of a retreating scrum. Slick hands from Connor Tantum and Jacob Lloyd set Mike Powell away down the wing and the flyer had the pace to dive over in the corner. The Blue and Blacks hit back with a score from Will ReesHole. Mike Powell looked to have kept the ball in play following a penalty kick to touch but Cardiff were awarded the lineout and were able to crash over from close range.
It took the Ravens just a minute to again stretch their lead thanks to another poor kickoff exit from the visitors. Bridgend built through the forwards, dragging in defenders, before Connor Tantum sniped over from close range.
Cardiff added a fourth try as the match passed the hour mark, replacement Rhys Carre drove over to set up a nervy final 15 minutes. Bridgend full back Mathew Edwards twice lined up 50+ metre penalty attempts to try to stretch the Ravens lead. Whilst the distance was no problem both penalties slipped past the upright.
A yellow card for the visitors ended any Cardiff hopes of completing the fightback and the Ravens held out for a vital bonus point victory as the race for the playoffs heats up.