22 Mar BRIDGEND 18-26 LLANDOVERY

Bridgend Ravens gave high flying Llandovery a fright at the Electric Brewery Field in their final home game of the regular season on Saturday, with the Drovers edging victory 26pts to 18.

Scott Baldwin’s side will rue missed kicks at goal and a wildly inaccurate lineout which let the Drovers off the hook and to take away five points from what was otherwise an evenly matched affair.

Bridgend started the better and after Fraser Jones made a neat break, scrum half George MacDonald cynically stopped Bridgend recycling the ball and was yellow carded. The visitors weathered the storm for ten minutes though and it was them that scored first after Adam Warren broke through Bridgend’s defence and played a neat 1-2 with Kian Abraham to cross out wide. Ioan Hughes converted.

The Drovers asserted their dominance on the match and five minutes later, Jamie Hughes bundled over from close range for a seven pointer to extend his side’s lead.

Bridgend did have something to show from the half thanks to a final play Ben Burnell penalty goal.

HT Bridgend 3-14 Llandovery

Both sides set out in the second half for a fast start and we got one. Llandovery scored first through full back Kian Abraham, before Bridgend instantly pulled one back.

Corey Lewis put in an inch perfect cross kick with McCauley Rowley finishing neatly. The conversion slipped wide.

Llandovery took control of the match after 55 minutes when Harri Doel scored and Bridgend’s Thomas Jevons was sent to the bin.

Bridgend had hope with 15 minutes to go thanks to a lovely Edd Howley score. Critically, Lloyd Wilkins’ conversion went awry and left the Ravens needing two scores in the final ten minutes.

They gave it a good go, but ultimately Llandovery had just enough to hold out for a much needed five point win on the road, despite a late yellow card for Evan Sheldon.

Bridgend are next in action at Newport Stadium next weekend before finishing the season with away trips to Swansea and RGC, before the end of season playoffs get underway. The Ravens currently sit in 8th place in the position of the final home playoff place but there’s still all to play for as the season reaches the business end.