Bridgend Ravens ended 2025 with a home defeat to Cardiff in front of a bumper festive crowd at the Electric Brewery Field.

The sides met a week prior at the Arms Park with the Blue and Blacks comfortably winning that tie 49pts to 12, but Dan Fish’s side were made to work harder for victory this time out.

Bridgend took an early lead when Lloyd Wilkins smashed over a penalty from half way after less than a minute to give his side the earliest of leads.

Elijah Evans was yellow carded for the visitors midway through the half for a deliberate knock on but the Ravens were unable to make the man advantage pay. The closest they got to troubling the scorers was a long range Wilkins penalty which dropped short of the posts.

Cardiff’s class showed and they ended the half by taking the lead thanks to academy starlet Ioan Emmanuel. Wilde added the extras and Cardiff held a slender lead at the break.

HT Bridgend 3-7 Cardiff

Cardiff missed an early chance to extend their lead when Wilde hit the post with a penalty.

As the game drew on, the visitors started to gain the upper hand, but Nathan Hudd was yellow carded just before the halfway mark of the half and the Ravens sensed an opportunity to seize the advantage.

It eventually came when Joseph Gatt burrowed over for a try converted by replacement outside half Luke Price to send the home faithful wild.

It wasn’t to be though, as Cardiff’s power game saw them eased to victory with a rampant final quarter display, with tries from Alun Rees, Ben Fry, Iwan Stephens and Stef Emmanuel to ensure the visitors bagged another six points against Baldwin’s Bridgend.

There’s a weekend of rest for Bridgend, with Pontypool next to visit the Electric Brewery Field on the 10th of January.