Warlow Piles Up The Points As Edinburgh’s Winning Streak Comes To An End

BRIDGEND 53, EDINBURGH 30
Craig Warlow helped hismelf to 23 points as Bridgend hit in-form Edinburgh for six at the Brewery Field.
The Scots’ arrived with five wins in a row under their belt, including that victory at Swansea last weekend, but wer buried by half-time.
Having endured a fairly torried campaign to date, the Ravens suddenly came good. They ran in six tries, ncluding three wonderful efforts from Dafydd James, Aisia Havili and the out of favour Waes wing Gareth Thomas.
Thomas, who could get a recall to the senior Welsh side to go to Twickenham, put the finishing touch to a wonderful break from his own half by the flanker Mama Molitika.
It was a perfect end to a move that further confirmed the potential that
exists within the Bridgend side.
The home team started well and were 14-3 to the good inside 10 minutes courtesy of tries from James and Thomas and a brace of conversions from fly half Craig Warlow.
And by time half-time, the home side were streets ahead of their visitors – Richard Mustoe, enjoying a rare first team appearance, bagged a third try and Havili a fourth, a virtuoso effort which started inside his own half.
Edinburgh, who looked so competent in beating Swansea seven days earlier,
were a shadow of that side. Duncan Hodge kept them ticking over in the first half with three penalties, but they were all but out for the count by the interval.
They started the second period in better shape with Hodge converting his
own try and later in the half, after Bridgend had scored once again through Havili, there was a try for the Scottish international flanker Martin Leslie.
Nathan Hines scored a third for Edinburgh and Bridgend’s replacement lock Keith Stewart bagged his side’s sixth on the stroke of full time.
Scorers: Bridgend: A Havili 2, D James, G Thomas, R Mustoe, K Stewart; Cons: C Warlow 4; Pens: C Warlow 4; DG: C Warlow. Edinburgh: Tries: D Hodge, N Hines, M Leslie; Cons: D Hodge 3; Pens: D Hodge 3.