04 Jan BRIDGEND 30-27 ABERAVON

Bridgend Ravens completed a stunning second half come back against Aberavon in an all Ospreys derby at the Dunraven Brewery Field to secure a season double over the Wizards.

Bridgend trailed by 15 points at the interval but fought back to retake the lead just over ten minutes into the second half following a blitz of free flowing attacking play. Aberavon appeared to have snatched the points late on thanks to a penalty try but Luke Price again showed his class to kick two late penalty goals to secure the points for Scott Baldwin’s side.

Bridgend dominated early proceedings and after blowing a few opportunities, Price fed Mccauley Rowley with a well placed cross kick for the wing to score out wide. The conversion slipped by the posts.

Against the run of play, Ed Dunford kicked Aberavon back into the tie with a penalty before he took the game by the scruff of the neck soon after. The outside half kicked three more, before latching onto a wild pass from Price to run in a try from near half way.

The Wizards weren’t done there though and after Bridgend failed to take a couple of chances from driving mauls, Frankie Jones scuttled his way over for a try converted by Dunford leaving Bridgend with it all to do in the second half.

HT Bridgend 5-20 Aberavon 

Bridgend needed a fast start to the second half and got it with Ryan Wilkins cutting a nice line to score under the posts. Luke Price added a simple two.

The Ravens then scored the try of the match when replacement Jake Thomas counter attacked from a loose Aberavon clearance kick to feed Edd Howley. The full back broke through, passing to Rowley, who tipped it on to Wilkins before feeding Luke Price to dot down for a converted score.

The comeback was complete shortly after when Bridgend’s forward power saw Evan Yardley, on his 50th club appearance bundling over from a driving maul. Crucially, Price missed the conversion but Bridgend had regained the lead within just twelve second half minutes.

To their credit, Aberavon regrouped and didn’t give Bridgend any real further opportunities to extend their lead. The game was a reasonably even contest until chaos ensued in the final five minutes.

Bridgend had turned down the opportunity to kick three points and spurned the resulting line out, but seemed comfortable in possession in midfield. When the ball broke to Luke Price, the outside half spotted an overlap but his looping pass was picked off for an interception which eventually resulted in the visitors being awarded a penalty try and McCauley Rowley being sent to the bin. The Ravens faced the prospect of playing the remainder of the game with just 14 players with an uphill task to win.

Baldwin’s men did just that, though and after Price levelled the scores with a simple three pointer, they piled on the pressure and were awarded a penalty at an angle giving Price the chance to win the game which he duly took to the delight of the Ravens faithful.

His well struck penalty sailed through the posts to give Bridgend a thoroughly deserved victory and move them up to fifth in the Super Rygbi Cymru standings.

The Ravens take a break from action with their next game seeing high flying Newport visit the Dunraven Brewery Field on Saturday 25th January (2:30pm).