HEAD HOWLEY BAGS VICTORY
SWANSEA ........................... 13 BRIDGEND .......................... 20
AN INCREDIBLE try by fullback Edd Howley helped Bridgend book a place in the Premiership Cup quarter-finals. In a winner-takes-all contest for the final quarter-final place from the west, the visitors were steered home in amazing fashion.
With the scores locked at 13-13, Swansea attacked with a low probing kick that full-back Howley ran across to deal with.
But events then took an unexpected turn. Instead of gathering and maybe running into contact some 65 metres out, Howley hacked the ball high into the air down the touchline with his left boot.
A Whites player ran over to cover, only for the ball to bounce back high enough for the onrushing Bridgend No. 15 to jump into the air and head it, soccer-style, over the last line of defence.
All that remained was for Howley to safely collect his own nod forward and amble over the Swansea line.
The scored proved decisive as Bridgend ran out 20-13 winners.
“You don’t see many headers in rugby, but we’ll definitely take it,” said Ravens head coach Steve Jones.
It was nip and tuck all the way through, with Bridgend taking the lead when Howley glided through a couple of tackles in midfield before firing a scoring pass to Cameron Ellis.
Ravens lock Kieran Martin was yellow-carded for pulling down a maul and moments later Swansea’s Connor Tantum took a quick tap-penalty and fed Llien Morgan for a try out wide. With both scores converted it was 7-7 at the break.
The Ravens began the second half well as former Wales fly-half landed a
penalty after Hanno Dirksen was yellow-carded.
Moments later Dafi Davies was sin-binned for offside and Liam Popham levelled again. Popham added another to edge the Whites into the lead, but Jones matched it.
Then came the final flourish from Howley, with Jones adding the extras.
SWANSEA – Try: L Morgan. Con: L Popham. Pens: L Popham (2).
BRIDGEND – Tries: C Ellis, E Howley. Cons: M Jones (2). Pens: M Jones (2).