Indiscipline costs struggling Ravens dearly again

BRIDGEND kept Cardiff scoreless for 25 minutes, but then shot themselves in the foot with two yellow cards and a stream of penalties to lose for the sixth time in their last seven games.

You had to go back to 24 September, 2016, for the last time they were ‘nilled’ in a match, when they went down 32-0 at Ebbw Vale, and it was the first time since 7 December, 1991, they had failed to score in a home game, when they lost 25-0 to Newbridge.

Home lock Chris John was the first to go to the sinbin for a late shoulder charge on Will Rees-Hole and then hooker Iestyn Merriman followed him in the second half for a stamp at a ruck on the Cardiff line.

Those were among a string of penalties that allowed the visitors to build a 15-0 interval lead with four penalties from the boot of Gareth Thompson and then a 55-metre howitzer from new signing Ed Howley.

Second-half tries from impressive centre ReesHole, latching on to an overthrow at a line-out in the home 22 and crossing at the posts, and back-row men Tom Daley and Morgan Allen took Cardiff further ahead, but the bonus-point try remained elusive and they had to settle for four points and a seventh win in a row.

The result leaves Bridgend near the bottom of the Principality Premiership, while Cardiff’s victory keeps them hot on the heels of the leaders. Star man Morgan Allen - Cardiff