02 Sep Swansea 27-28 Bridgend Ravens

Bridgend Ravens secured victory on the opening game of the season with derby day success at St Helen’s against Swansea, courtesy of a goal kicking masterclass from Luke Price. 

In the heat of St Helen’s, Luke Price kept his cool to nail a touchline penalty with the last kick of the game to earn victory over Swansea in the 23/24 season opener.

Price slotted an early three pointer for the visitors, but it was the hosts that would have the better of the half.

Bridgend indiscipline coupled with Swansea’s speed of play saw the Ravens lose two to the bin; Alfie Llewellyn was shown yellow with just over quarter of an hour played. Reuben Tucker followed just before the 25 minute mark leaving the Ravens with just 13 on the pitch.

Rhys Jones levelled before giving his side the lead with nearly half an hour played. The All Whites eventually got the try their play deserved, a scything break saw Harry James touch down.

Supporter’s Man of the Match, Luke Price, edged Bridgend closer at the break with two further penalties, seeing Bridgend trail by 4 at half time.

HT Swansea RFC 13-9 Bridgend Ravens

The Ravens upped their tempo from the second half kick off and should have added a first try with just a minute on the clock. Poor handling close to the line saw the attack fade, however the Ravens faithful didn’t have to wait long for their side’s opening try of the contest.

A set move off the top of a lineout saw Mike Powell perfectly time the pass to Stuart Floyd-Ellis who shot through the Swansea line and raced past the cover defence to score. Luke Price converted.

Price kept the scoreboard ticking, adding two further penalties, pushing the Ravens out to a 9 point lead at the hour mark.

Swansea struck for a second try through Gareth Rees, narrowing the score to two before Luke Price added his 20th point from the boot with the clock running towards the red.

With a five point deficit and the clock running out, Swansea set about looking for a winner, upped stepped the impressive Joe Thomas, who touched down out wide levelling the score. Rhys Jones nailed the touchline conversion to edge the All Whites into a slender two point lead with time all but up.

Bridgend heads didn’t drop however, and the visitors set about securing a winning score. A try looked certain, the excellent Stuart Floyd-Ellis found himself five metres out, but immense Swansea defence halted the Ravens efforts. A knock on looked to have wrapped the game up, but there was still time for the scrum restart. An incredible effort from the pack saw Swansea concede a penalty, the Ravens power just too much.

Luke Price, with ice in his veins at a sweltering St Helen’s, nailed the match winner.

A perfect afternoon from the boot of Price steered Bridgend to victory over an impressive Swansea team. Bridgend face another Ospreys region rival as Aberavon travel to the Dunraven Brewery Field on Saturday afternoon.