19 Oct Bridgend 18-34 Ebbw Vale

Bridgend Ravens endured a tough afternoon at the Dunraven Brewery Field as Ebbw Vale came away with a maximum 6 points in victory. 

The Ravens will be disappointed to have not performed better, particularly as the visitors were made to play for the majority of the match with fourteen men after Ryan Jenkins was red carded for a reckless challenge in the first half.

Ebbw Vale started the better of the teams and the reliable Evan Lloyd kicked an early penalty to give his side the lead. The sprung the home side to life and centre Tommy Morgan picked off a loose pass and hacked ahead, but the move came to nothing and the visitors were able to clear.

Bridgend battled back and after Adam Jones awarded the first card of the afternoon, a yellow one in this instance, to Dom Franchi, the Ravens were able to smartly work the ball wide for the deadly Mccauley Rowley to dot down. Burnell put the conversion wide.

The visitors’ forward dominance got them back into the game and Liam Tobias was yellow carded following an indiscretion at the maul. Hooker Joe Franchi was at the back of the resulting maul to score, a try which Lloyd converted.

Ben Burnell, having missed an earlier attempt at goal, made no mistake the second time around to cut Ebbw’s lead shortly after.

With the half entering its dying embers, Ebbw Vale’s Ryan Jenkins was given a straight red card for a dangerous tackle as Bridgend worked a neat move in the Steelmen’s 22. Burnell made them pay with 3 more points.

Ebbw had the final say of the half as Lloyd gave them the lead with the final kick of the first 40.

HT Bridgend 11-13 Ebbw Vale 

Bridgend had the man advantage, but ultimately the Steelmen’s power game was too much as they took a stranglehold on the tie by utilising their driving maul and pinning the home side back with some sensible tactical kicking.

The first score of the second half was crucial and Bridgend thought they had it after Harry Olding bundled over. After consulting with his assistant, Adam Jones deemed that Olding was held up and Ebbw were able to clear their lines.

That first score went to Jason Strange’s side through a penalty try awarded after the Ravens illegally collapsed a driving maul. Second row Evan Hill was sent to the bin as a result.

Minutes later, the Steelmen’s pack were at it again as Franchi bagged a second score, converted by Lloyd.

The tie was far from over though, and after Bridgend got themselves some decent field position, a forward surge of their own saw replacement hooker Corey Lewis get himself on the scoresheet, with his score improved by Burnell.

Things took a turn for the worse for Bridgend moments later as Ospreys youngster Hill was given a second yellow card and sent off.

Ebbw Vale secured their double bonus point win in the resulting play as Lloyd sent them to the corner and Franchi and his pack did the rest. Lloyd made no mistake with the conversion.

The full time whistle arrived shortly after and Bridgend will need to pick themselves up with a trip to the Arms Park to face Cardiff next on the agenda (4:15pm) next Saturday. That match is being played as part of a double header with Cardiff Rugby facing Ulster in the URC at the conclusion of the Bridgend v Cardiff match.