Double delight for Ravens against Welsh All Blacks
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP WEST NEATH ............................ 8 BRIDGEND RAVENS .. 15
BRIDGEND RAVENS completed the season’s double over Neath with this hard fought match at the Gnoll.
Both sides lacked clinical finishing throughout the first half, as both let try scoring chances go begging.
Ed Howley and Ryan Evans traded penalties for a 3-3 half-ime scoreline.
An immediate impact from new signing Jonathan Phillips helped Bridgend bag the first try of the match. A half-break and offload from the lively Phillips set Bridgend away down the wing. The visitors were held up over the line and a succession of five metre scrums ensued.
Neath were shown a yellow card as Bridgend began to dominate at the scrum. The try eventually arrived with Adam O’Driscoll barging over out wide, Ryan Evans’ conversion drifted just wide.
The Ravens then struck for a try-of-the-season contender starting with a lineout on their own 22. Some magnificent offloading and direct running saw Ryan Evans and Mike Powell gai good metres. Powell was involved a second time in the attack to latch onto another offload to round under the posts and get the finish the flowing move deserved. Evans converted for a 12-point Bridgend lead heading into the last quarter.
Neath hit back as the final 10 minutes approached. David Griggs broke into the 22 and was able to gallop over. Howley sent the conversion wide leaving a seven-point gap between the sides with 10 minutes to play.
Late in the match the Welsh All Blacks fought hard, looking to snatch an unlikely draw. A penalty kicked five metres out with time up would test the Ravens resolve, but the visitors maul defence, much improved on last week, held out the Neath drive and forced a turno- ver which saw Bridgend secure a vital victory and guarantee themselves at least three points when the Principality Premiership merges with one match in the West division to spare.
Bridgend Ravens Supporters Man of The Match was Nathan Edwards.