17 Apr ABERAVON 10 – 13 BRIDGEND

Bridgend Ravens booked their place in the Super Rygbi Cymru Quarter Final with a narrow win over Aberavon at Talbot Athletic Ground on Thursday evening. 

The Ravens fought back from a 10 point deficit in horrendous conditions, for their third victory over their local rivals this season.

The torrential rain ruined any chance of an open game, and Aberavon struck first after just two minutes with a Scott Delnevo penalty.

Bridgend dominated territory but couldn’t get the score that their control of posession deserved.

It was Aberavon that bagged the game’s first try after 22 minutes. Charlie Thomas’ kick through caused chaos in the back field and after James Price gathered as Edd Howley lost control of the ball. The centre, who scored against Bridgend for Swansea a fortnight ago, offloaded to Ellis Horgan who scored. Delnevo converted.

Bridgend fought back and continued to dominate proceedings, and with time running out, Aberavon’s Jordan Walters was yellow carded with the clock in the red. From the resulting scrum, Bridgend worked the ball through the hands for Edd Howley to score. Fraser Jones’ conversion went wide, as referee Craig Evans called time on the first half.

HT Aberavon 10-5 Bridgend 

The weather conditions worsened as the evening drew on. Aberavon had the first chance to score in the second half, but Scott Delnevo, after taking an age with a kick at goal, pulled his attempt wide.

It wasn’t until the 68th minute that the scorers were challenged again. Lloyd Wilkins, on for Burnell, delayed a pass just shy of Aberavon’s 22, feeding Mccauley Rowley out wide. The wing popped a pass to Jake Thomas, who returned the favour for the wideman to score. The conversion was missed and the scores stayed level.

With time almost up, Bridgend battled hard to earn a kickable penalty which Lloyd Wilkins dispatched to give his side the lead for the first time.

That wasn’t the end though, and both sides slogged out for a further ten minutes of stoppage time before Stef Andrews was bundled into touch near the travelling Bridgend faithful to signal the end of the match.

The Ravens head to Ebbw Vale in the Quarter Final next weekend, with the game at Ciner Glass Community Stadium set to kick off at 2:30pm.