19 Sep PONTYPOOL 38-50 BRIDGEND

Bridgend Ravens put in a sparkling performance to pick up their first Super Rygbi Cymru win of 2026/27 by putting Pontypool to the sword at Pontypool Park on Saturday.

The Ravens bagged two tries in the opening 10 minutes. Ben Evans, breaking tackles, got the opening score out wide. Fraser Jones converted from the touchline for a 7 nil lead.

Captain Thomas Jevons added the visitors second, touching down off the back of a powerful maul from the Bridgend pack.

Pontypool hit back with a score through Liam Antribus. Evan Lloyd converted to narrow the gap to five.

Bridgend added a third with 20 minutes played. McCauley Rowley crossed out wide for the first of his three tries. Jones added the extras.

Three minutes later Bridgend crossed the whitewash again. Ben Burnell broke away, finding Ryan Wilkins on his shoulder. The centre showed great pace to secure Bridgend’s bonus point try.

The impressive McCauley Rowley secured his second of the match, Bridgend’s fifth, just two minutes later. Rowley slipped the Pooler defence and raced in from his own half. Jones converted to push Bridgend out to a 31 points to 7 lead with 25 minutes on the clock.

Pontypool struck for a second, Captain Scott Matthews burst through for the score. Evan Lloyd again converted.

As half time approached, Bridgend struck for a sixth. Rowley again heavily involved, the flyer found Ryan Conbeer in support who touched down for a first try in Blue & White.

HT Pontypool 14-36 Bridgend Ravens

Despite the 22 point half time lead, the second half was anything but comfortable for Bridgend. Pooler struck for 4 second half tries, whilst Bridgend saw themselves down to 13 men late in the match to ensure a nervy finish. The visitors held out and added two further tries of their own to secure a vital victory, taking 5  league points back to Bridgend with them.

Ellis Lewis kicked off the Pontypool comeback effort with a 46th minute score. Ever impressive Evan Lloyd added the extras.

As the 60th minute arrived, Ben Evans extended the Bridgend lead, rounding under the posts to dot down. Fraser Jones slotted the extras.

The Ravens’ defensive effort was immense, Pontypool threw everything at Bridgend and the visitors stood firm on multiple occasions.

Bridgend eventually cracked. Iestyn Merriman was shown yellow. The visitors continued defending manfully before Dan Hill bagged Pooler’s third try of the match. Bridgend lost Ben Burnell to the bin as a result of the play, leaving them two men down with 10 minutes to play.

Pontypool got to work, trying to make the advantage count. The hosts added two tries in two minutes teeing up a nervy final 5 minutes for Bridgend as the hosts narrowed the gap to just five points.

With Pooler now in all out attack, Bridgend turned the ball over and set McCauley Rowley in motion for his third of the match, an eighth for Bridgend, securing the victory in the process. Fraser Jones added one final conversion, seeing the visitors hit the 50 point mark, earning a 5 point victory.

Bridgend will be pleased to have got off the mark, but the tough league games continue when Llandovery visit the Electric Brewery Field on Saturday (2:30pm).