All Whites whitewashed by the Bridgend Ravens
BRIDGEND RAVENS .. 26 SWANSEA ...................... 0
BRIDGEND Ravens made it 2-1 against Swansea this season as they whitewashed the All Whites at the Morganstone Brewery Field.
After losing 22-6 at St Helens, the Ravens won the return at home 21-19 but last Saturday’s result was much more comprehensive.
Ryan Evans landed an early penalty before Bridgend added the first try of the match with just over 10 minutes played.
A big maul drive from the Ravens pack got Bridgend to within 10 metres of the Swansea line. The hosts’ then spread the ball wide where Joseph Gatt was able to stroll over as Bridgend worked the overlap. Ryan Evans landed an excellent touchline conversion for a 10-point lead.
Bridgend were rarely troubled throughout the first half, and the Ravens should have added a second try at the 20-minute mark. A superb move saw Jonathan Phillips dive over, however the referee called Michael Powell’s final pass forward.
Shortly after, Jonathan Phillips did manage to bag his eighth try of the season. Another big maul from Bridgend drew a penalty advantage, and Ryan Evans executed the the game was effectively over. Tondu did manage to get themselves on the scoreboard on the stroke of half-time when centre Josh Tatchell sailed over in the corner and that late first-half try seemed to set the tone for much of the second half.
All of a sudden Tondu were playing their trademark running rugby and a splendid move early in the second half saw wing Aled Jones finish in the corner, Tatchell added the conversion and it was now 24-12.
Just two minutes later Tatchell crossed for the visitors’ third touchdown and then scrum half Gareth Lindenburn sailed over for a well worked try and with Tatchell again adding the extra points it was now level at 24-all and it was difficult to comprehend what might happen next.
But we guessed what was coming when try machine Sam Grabham perfect cross kick to find Joseph Gatt who was able to outjump the Swansea defence. The Tondu product produced the offload to send Phillips over. Ryan Evans again landed an excellent conversion.
Bridgend added their crashed over with around 15 minutes on the clock to put Tondu into the lead for the first time to a make remarkable comeback a real possibility.
Ammanford were now third try of the match with just over 10 minutes of the second half played. Chris John produced another fine performance in the Blue and White jersey, and added a fine assist with an interception in the Swansea half. John a wounded animal and this proved to be very dangerous as their forwards went on the offensive for virtually the first time in the second half with replacement second charged into the 22 and timed the pass perfectly to Stuart Floyd-Ellis who was able to break the final tackle attempt to score. Evans added the extras.
Bridgend lost Shaun O’Rourke to the bin, but Swansea offered little row Liam Baker crashing over to level the scores again, and leaving outside half Steffan Roberts the easiest of conversions to seal a late win for the home side. threat. Later, Swansea’s Fenton Holder was shown a yellow card for repeated scrum infringements as Bridgend pressed late in the match for a fourth try, but despite the concerted efforts, the bonus-point try eluded the Ravens.
Tondu can take a lot of credit for their secondhalf performance but on the night the honours went to an Ammanford side that just about deserved the win.