26 Apr EBBW VALE 28-21 BRIDGEND

Bridgend Ravens finished the 2025/26 Super Rygbi Cymru campaign with defeat at the hands of Ebbw Vale at the Quarter Final Stage at Ciner Glass Community Stadium.

Scott Baldwin’s side, backed by sizeable travelling support, put in a determined showing and will count themselves unlucky not to be in next weekend’s semi final against Newport having led for three quarters of Saturday’s tie.

Things couldn’t have started better for Bridgend. A strong attacking driving maul was halted illegally by Ebbw Vale’s pack; referee Ben Whitehouse awarded a penalty try and a yellow card to the Steelmen’s Ben Main.

Ebbw Vale responded quickly, striking back just four minutes later through Morgan Richards. Evan Lloyd converted.

The remainder of the half was a see-saw affair with momentum swinging both ways, but Bridgend threw the final punch. From an attacking scrum, Gethin O’Callaghan cut a neat angle and smashed his way over for a try. Lloyd Wilkins’ conversion was the final act of the half, putting Bridgend ahead.

HT Ebbw Vale 7-14 Bridgend

Ebbw were rattled and turned to their strong driving maul in the second half which was ultimately the deciding factor in this match. Ieuan Morris bagged a try from the tail of a maul, and Lloyd’s conversion leveled things up after 50 minutes.

Ten minutes later, Bridgend were ahead again. Tom Florence, who once again put in a superb performance, bundled his way through a handful of would-be tacklers to score. Wilkins’ conversion sailed through the posts and with a quarter of the game remaining, Bridgend had the advantage.

Despite their best efforts to extend the lead, Ebbw Vale flipped the game on its head with two quick-fire scores. Replacement scrum half, Gruff Tough was the first to cross, and Ieuan Morris scored four minutes later. Evan Lloyd converted both tries, and with just over ten minutes to go, Bridgend trailed for the first time.

The Ravens tried their hardest to force an extra score, but despite good attacking positions and an improved scrum effort late on, they couldn’t score to force extra time.

Ebbw Vale advance to the semi-final next weekend where reigning champions Newport will be the visitors.