26 Sep Pontypridd 40 v Bridgend Ravens 8

Bridgend travelled to Sardis Road for the second of their back to back clashes with Pontypridd, this time an Indigo Premiership encounter.

Pontypridd put a clear plan together following last week’s tie, in which the Ravens came out on top. Continuing with their dominant scrum platform, the hosts ensured any opportunity for points were taken, former Raven Joseph Scrivens notching 28 points with the boot. Bridgend indiscipline afforded the home side ample opportunities to continually put points on the board. An early Dale Stuckey try and Joseph Scrivens penalty saw Ponty lead 8 points to nil after 10.

Bridgend saw Edd Howley touch down with 15 minutes on the clock, and the 25th minute saw Luke Price add three from the tee. Scoreboard traffic would be all on the Ponty side for the remainder of the tie, the boot of Scrivens doing the damage as Bridgend infringed far too often, resulting in a Jamie Murphy yellow card towards the end of the half.

HT Pontypridd RFC 23-8 Bridgend Ravens

A story much the same as the first half played out, however Bridgend were kept scoreless despite the Ravens best efforts in the second half, indiscipline and errors saw no return. Pontypridd continued to build on their lead from the tee, and scored a second try through Aled Ward. With Bridgend wanting to urgently get back underway in an effort to chase the game, a quickly taken kick off was deemed too quick, the referee pulling play back to retake the restart. With players not hearing the whistle Pontypridd backrow Sion Parry’s tip tackle saw the replacement receive a red card, Bridgend restarting with a penalty.

Nothing was to come from the visitors’ pressure despite multiple lineout drives just metres out, Ponty held on and counter-attacked late going end to end and earning a penalty try as an early tackle stopped the hosts just short of the line. Mike Powell was shown yellow and the final whistle arrived.