08 Jan Bridgend 11-16 Carmarthen
Bridgend Ravens slipped to a disappointing home defeat to Carmarthen Quins on Saturday afternoon.
Bridgend were always chasing the match having fallen behind in the first two minutes, with Scarlets outside half Charlie Titcombe starring for the West Walians and bagging all of his side’s points.
It was the worst possible start for Tom Smith’s side with Titcombe running in a try after just two minutes with a smart show and go which caught the Bridgend defence napping. He added the simple conversion.
Jacob Lloyd was back in blue and white and straight back into the action, kicking a penalty two minutes later to reduce the deficit.
The game was now largely played between the two 22’s and the pivotal moment of the half saw Bridgend’s Reuben Tucker harshly yellow carded for repeat offences after 15 minutes. Titcombe kicked three more from the resulting penalty.
Quins now looked to take the initiative with the man advantage but Bridgend, to their credit, held firm. Titcombe bagged three more points for his side with 25 minutes on the clock but the rest of the yellow card period went unpunished.
In fact, it was Bridgend who were next to score. Hooker Evan Yardley the beneficiary of some nice interplay between the Bridgend forwards to score the eighth try of his Ravens career. Lloyd’s conversion slipped wide, but Bridgend were back in the match.
HT Bridgend 8-13 Carmarthen
The second half was an attritional affair as Bridgend looked to turn the score line in their favour. They started well, and Lloyd kicked three points from out wide within the first minute of the half.
There can be no doubt that Bridgend had opportunities in the second half to steal victory. The Ravens were now dominating the scrum, with No8 Tucker making an electric break from the base of a powerful midfield scrum before being pulled back by referee Ben Connor. Bridgend also had a number of chances to go ahead with set plays near the Carmarthen line, but desperate home defence kept them out.
Carmarthen were next to score though, as Titcombe, having pulled an earlier attempt, made no mistake second time around to extend their lead to five points.
The driving lineout also had its moments, and Bridgend kept battling for victory until the last moments. With the clock in the red, Jake Lloyd punted Bridgend into the Quins 22, but the lineout was lost and Quins experienced scrum half, Rhodri Davies, held onto possession before clearing his lines and sealing just a second win of the season for Quins.
Bridgend are next in action when they face Merthyr at the Wern on Saturday afternoon (2:30pm).