29 Mar NEWPORT 35-20 BRIDGEND

Bridgend Ravens picked up a late bonus point in defeat at Newport Stadium, as the Black and Ambers ran out 35 points to 20 winners on Saturday afternoon.

Newport raced into an early two try lead, Dafydd Buckland and Ben Roach touching down with both scores converted by Harrison James.

Bridgend struck back with urgency, a powerful maul saw Corey Lewis cross for a first Ravens try of the afternoon. The conversion effort was sent wide.

Bridgend went on to have the better of the first half but couldn’t get over the line, knocking on and being held up as the half went on.

Newport got themselves some territory with 40 on the clock. The hosts clinically added a third to push themselves out to a 16 point halftime lead.

HT – Newport RFC 21-5 Bridgend Ravens

A back and forth second half saw Newport add two further tries, whilst Bridgend added three to leave with a try bonus point.

Corey Lewis bagged a second with another powerful maul drive working its way over the line.

Newport hit back twice more, Henry Palmer and Chay Foster-Smith bagging tries with Harrison James landing two further successful conversions.

Bridgend, now trailing by 25, worked hard to leave with a point.

Another strong maul effort from the visitors saw 18 year old replacement hooker McKenzie Scales touch down for a first time in Blue & White.

Bridgend had 10 minutes to find a bonus point score to avoid leaving empty handed, and it was Mccauley Rowley who found it, wriggling through the Newport defence to score to bag what could be an important point in the race for a home playoff tie.

Bridgend secured a hard earned point, playing some encouraging rugby, with tough away fixtures against Swansea and RGC to round out the Super Rygbi Cymru regular season.