18 Oct BRIDGEND 38-33 PONTYPOOL

Bridgend Ravens picked up another impressive home win with a late Ioan Davies try sealing all five points against Pontypool at the Electric Brewery Field.

It was a seesaw match which it looked like Pooler had come back to win, thanks to a try from Tiaan Hall. But 14 man Bridgend battled back, and Ben Burnell’s pinpoint cross kick was captured by Ioan Davies who charged home for the game’s winning score as the clock hit 80.

Bridgend got off to the perfect start, with wide-man Ben Evans crossing after 15 minutes. The ball had been worked nicely through Bridgend’s backs, and the youngster made no mistake in the corner. Fraser Jones’ conversion slipped wide.

Pontypool turned to their forwards for a route back into the game and it was Dragons’ hooker Sam Scarfe that scored their first points of the afternoon from a rolling maul. Kieran Meek gave his side the lead.

Bridgend’s backs were at it again just five minutes later, and it was Ben Evans that profitted once again for a try convered by Jones.

The game swung back Pontypool’s way as Joel Mahoney scored, converted by Meek.

Not to be denied, Bridgend went in at the break ahead, following Ryan Wilkins’ score. The midfielder squeezed over following a Bridgend rolling maul, and Fraser Jones made no mistake this time with the conversion.

HT Bridgend 17-14 Pontypool 

It only took Baldwin’s side two minutes in the second half to extend their lead. McKenzie Scales, impressive all afternoon again, powered home from a set piece maul. Jones’ conversion extended Bridgend’s lead to 10.

The game was far from over, though, as Pontypool struck twice in ten minutes through Joel Mahoney, who bagged his second, and Sam Scarfe, both converted by Meek to flip the tie on its head.

Bridgend charged back though. Supporters’ Man of the Match, Ben Burnell, grubbered through the defensive line on the visitors’ 22 and Ryan Wilkins gathered for his second score of the afternoon. Fraser Jones popped over a simple conversion to retake the lead.

With time slipping away, the men of Gwent appeared to have stolen the win. Nathan Evans saw yellow for the home side and moments later, replacement Tiaan Hall bundled over to give Pontypool the lead and seemingly, the win.

It wasn’t to be though, as Bridgend summoned the strength for another attack. Ben Burnell took the ball in midfield and floated a sumptuous cross kick into the hands of replacement back row, Ioan Davies, who gathered to score under the posts. Jones again converted and Bridgend could taste victory.

That win was in doubt right up until referee Amber Stamp-Dunston’s final whistle. Pontypool kept the ball through numerous phases, and wing Rhys Cole came within a whisker of scoring, but knocked on just short of the line.

That action saw the end of the game and secured Bridgend’s third win of the campaign so far. They head to the Arms Park to face Cardiff next Saturday (2:30pm).