Ravens put their claws into Neath to bag double triumph

BRIDGEND completed a Principality Premiership West league double over Ospreylian rivals Neath at the Gnoll.

In truth, it was poor spectacle overall and won’t be a game that will live long in the memory for either side.

However the victory for the Ravens saw them bounce back from back-toback league defeats at Llanelli and then at home against Carmarthen Quins.

Meanwhile, the win also backed up their 28-20 victory over the Welsh All Blacks when they battled back from behind to win with 14 men in the reverse fixture at the Brewery Field at the end of September.

Ex-Neath wing Aaron Grabham, who scored late on in that match, was back on his old stamping ground but there was little excitement from the backs for either side in the first half.

It took more than half an hour for the first score, Ed Howley finally got the scoreboard ticking with a penalty for the hosts on 34 minutes, before Ryan Evans landed one for the visitors four minutes later.

Adam O’Driscoll then scored the game’s first try on 53 minutes, which went unconverted, to put Bridgend 8-3 ahead.

Then came the standout moment of the match when Mike Powell finished off a terrific backs move that started in the Ravens’ own 22. Evans nailed the conversion.

David Griggs replied for Neath on 73 minutes to bag them a losing bonus point.