Bridgend romped into their first Principality Cup semi-final for 10years with a comfortable victory over a cash-strapped and talent-strapped Swansea club at the Brewery Field.
Ravens skipper Gareth Thomas, one of the few Wales players to come through the Six Nations with any credit, was in great form and fully deserved a stunning 40-metre solo try in the dying stages of the match.
Assistant Bridgend coach Richard Webster, a former Swansea player, said the team were looking forward to the Cup semi-final at the Millennium Stadium, but he wasn’t happy with today’s performance.
“It wasn’t the best of games, and we didn’t perform as well as we can,” Webster said.
“We were always in control, but we weren’t clinical enough. We can’t wait for the game at the Millennium Stadium and we’re still unbeaten in the Premiership, so we’re still on for the double.”
Webster said he knew Swansea would come out firing after their troubles
off the field.
“Their new coaches, Tony Clement and Paul Moriarty, are Swansea boys through and through, and they’ve done a grand job considering the circumstances.”
The Ravens stunned Swansea in the opening seconds when a Gavin Henson mistake metres from his line led to Bridgend hooker Andrew Joy scoring in the corner.
Gareth Cull extended Bridgend’s lead with a monster penalty goal in the 10th minute, but Henson slotted two quick goals into the wind to give the vastly out-numbered All Whites fans at the Brewery Field something to cheer about.
Swansea’s James Griffiths continued his campaign to earn more yellow cards than any other rugby player in Wales when he took out Bridgend backrower Maama Molitika without the ball, and an aggrieved Molitika joined him in the sin-bin after throwing a series of punches at the Swansea lock.
Bridgend’s Tongan winger Aisea Havili, possibly the fastest man in Welsh rugby, finished off a quality break from Thomas and Cull added a superb touchline conversion to give the Ravens a nine-point buffer, but it lasted barely 60 seconds.
Henson put up a cross-kick that the Bridgend defenders had under control, but they all looked at each other and Swansea winger Shaun
Payne strolled over and pressed the ball down. Henson’s conversion narrowed the Ravens’ lead to two points, but a classy movement involving most of the Bridgend side ended with backrower Nathan Budgett sprinting
10 metres to the try-line to give his side a 20-13 lead at the break.Cull kicked his second penalty goal early in the second half, but centre Steve Winn cancelled that out by crashing through three tackles to score at the other end.
Bridgend winger Richard Mustoe scored after Havili was held up on the line, and the floodgates opened. Molitika and Thomas bagged five-pointers as Cull began to find his
goal-kicking range, with the All Whites snatching a consolation try through promising fullback Gareth Swales.
Bridgend: Tries – A Joy, A Havili, N Budgett, R Mustoe, M Molitika, G
Thomas; Pens – G Cull 4; Cons – G Cull 3.
Swansea: Tries – S Payne, S Winn, G Swales; Pens – G Henson 2; Cons – G
Henson 2. Halftime: Bridgend 20-13.
Yellow cards: M Molitika (Bridgend), J Griffiths (Swansea).
