18 Oct Bridgend 29-27 Ebbw Vale

Bridgend bagged a bonus point in victory over Ebbw Vale at the Dunraven Brewery Field on Saturday afternoon.

A tight encounter saw the lead flip between both sides multiple times throughout the match. It was the visitors on the board first as a freak charge down handed a line break to the Steelmen. The breakaway was well finished by Matthew Flanagan, Evan Lloyd converted.

Lloyd, coming into the match as the leading point scorer in the Indigo Premiership added three from the tee to push the visitors out to a 10 point lead with 10 minutes played.

Bridgend responded with urgency and struck back through Iwan Griffith. The Centre busting through would be tacklers out wide before touching down for a first Indigo Premiership score in Raven colours.

The hosts added a second try as the half hour mark approached. Playing under penalty advantage, a neat chip from Price turned the Ebbw defence, and it was Tyler Williams who managed to get to the loose ball first, grounding for the score. Price was off target with the extras, leaving the scores level at 10 apiece.

Bridgend ended the first half the stronger side adding a third try before the break. Ebbw Vale handled the Bridgend Maul effort, forcing the Ravens into a pick and go effort close to the Ebbw line late in the half. The impressive Hemi Barnes was the man to bundle over bursting through would-be tacklers. Luke Price added the extras this time to push Bridgend into a 7 point halftime lead.

HT Bridgend Ravens 17-10 Ebbw Vale RFC

Ebbw Vale upped the tempo from the off adding two tries in the opening 7 minutes of the second half. A big maul effort, joined by their backs, saw the Steelmen level the scores once again, just five minutes into the half.

A second try a matter of minutes later arrived off the back of poor Bridgend handling and a simple Ebbw Vale set play from the back of the resulting scrum. Lloyd converted both scores to hand the visitors a 7 point lead.

Bridgend built back into the half, as a territorial battle ensued. Both sides battling with their kicking game. But it was Bridgend who would strike next through Caine Woolerton. The flyer dragged two defenders over the line with him, stretching out for the score. Price added the extras to once again tie the scoreline.

The Ravens invited pressure with errors, Evan Lloyd added another penalty for the visitors edging them 3 in front. Bridgend then set about securing a winning score.

The hosts’ attacking pressure saw Ebbw Vale deliberately knock on – and with a man in the bin, Bridgend bagged what turned out to be a winning try, Dylan Davies broke into the 22. Quick recycling saw the ball spread wide where Mike Powell’s offload found Joseph Gatt for the score. Price sent the conversion wide leaving a tense last five minutes as Bridgend held a slender two point lead.

There was a long wait for the kick off following the try as Ebbw Vale replacement Harry Drane was receiving treatment. Ebbw Vale later updated with the positive news that following hospital checks, Harry was okay and able to go home.

Bridgend held out for the remainder of the match, typified by an immense scrum win against the head, helping the Ravens to their first Indigo Premiership win of the season.