Bridgend Ravens secured their first five points of the season thanks to a hard fought bonus point 29-25 victory over Newport at the Bridgend Ford Brewery Field.
Newport got their first points after nine minutes. A third attempt at goal from Geraint O’Driscoll gave the visitors a three point lead.
It didn’t take long for Bridgend to score their first points of the game. Thomas O’Flaherty went over in the corner after a great Bridgend attack. A wide pass was nearly intercepted by Newport’s O’Driscoll, but a juggle from the fullback saw O’Flaherty steal the ball and touch town in the corner.
Just a couple of minutes later, Matthew Dwyer went over for Bridgend’s second try of the game. A big maul from an attacking lineout saw the Ravens drive all the way to the try line and the hooker was able to touchdown. This time Howe slotted the conversion.
A great break by Hewitt led to some panic in the Bridgend defence. Scrambling hard, a high tackle from Habberfield led to the scrum half being shown a yellow card as well as a penalty to Newport 10 metres out.
Newport kicked to the corner and a strong drive saw loose head Pattison score the visitors first try of the match. Fullback O’Driscoll kicked the conversion after 36 minutes.
Bridgend did not let the player disadvantage affect them as they pushed for a try before the break.
The Ravens kicked a penalty to touch seven metres out and a superb lineout was hauled in and a driving maul set up. Dai Barry broke away over the line to notch the Ravens third try of the game. Howe added an excellent conversion to give Bridgend a nine point lead.
Quick thinking from Newport No 8 Sam Freehan saw the visitors score an important try just before the break. O’Driscoll converted to bring the visitors within two points.
The players looked to be heading for the changing rooms but the officials decided there was still time to continue playing. Newport looked to capitalise and attacked the Bridgend line. In an attempt to slow the ball down, Kyle Evans knocked on. Deemed to be deliberate, the Ravens lock saw yellow and Newport had a great chance to snatch a lead at the break. A straight forward kick gave Newport a 19-20 halftime lead.
The opening of the second half was edgy and passed without score before Newport were able to add to their lead 20 minutes into the second half. James Monk scored the visitors third try of the match following another strong rolling maul from Newport.
The Ravens continued to play attractive, attacking rugby. A great counter attack from O’Flaherty saw the winger make good yards before Mike Powell took the ball into contact. A good offload saw Marc Thomas run through a gap in the Newport defence and excellent support running from Tom Morgan saw the centre score under the posts. Owen Howe converted to give Bridgend the lead back with 15 minutes left of the match. Morgan’s score also meant Bridgend were guaranteed their first point of the season.
Owen Howe gave the Ravens a four point lead with less than 10 minutes remaining when his penalty was slotted between the posts after 72 minutes.
Newport were able to attack the Bridgend defensive line for the remainder of the game but the Ravens kept the visitors out with some impressive choke tackling and strong defending to secure their first win of the season.
Ebbw Vale climbed to third in the points table with a 20-34 victory at Cross Keys. Here’s the viewpoint from the victors.
For the second time this season, the Steelmen and their vibrant band of supporters made the short journey down the Western Valley to take on Cross Keys. On a warm, sunlit autumn afternoon, Pandy Park, one of the most picturesque settings of all, was host to a cracking match.
The home side made the early running and ex-Steelman Dorian Jones was accurate with two penalties to give his side a 6-0 advantage.
Ebbw took the lead on the quarter hour when debutant full back Craig Duncan burst through and put Owen Williams in for a try that Iain Smerdon converted. WIthin five minutes, Ebbw’s lead was extended when smart play by outside half Smerdon created a try for another debutant, Tom Hiscock. Smerdon converted to make the score 14-6 and was again accurate in adding a score by Duncan who streaked home on the blindside from a ruck.
With Keys down to 14, second row Dan Hodge having been sent to the sin bin, it was Ebbw scrum half Rhys Downes who claimed the bonus point with a smart dart after a series of great drives by his forwards. With Smerdon again adding two, Ebbw went to the break leading 28-6.
A team of Keys’ quality and experience would inevitably look to fight back, and Ebbw knew the second half would require organised, disciplined defence. Superbly led by Damien Hudd, in the form of his life, the Steelmen soaked up everything Keys threw at them, winning penalties that enabled them to rebut attacks and extending the lead to 31-6 before some individual brilliance by wing Nathan Trowbridge, scoring two tries, brought it to 31-20.
Ebbw had the final say, despite their by now overwhelming scrum dominance being thwarted when Cross Keys had a replacement prop yellow carded and went ‘passive’, and an Ethan Davies penalty made the final score 34-20.
Special mention must be made of the veterans Damien Hudd and Mathew Williams, dream debutant Craig Duncan and the cool controller, Iain Smerdon but, in all honesty, if you want to know who made the difference for Ebbw, just read the 23 names below.
Craig Duncan, Wes Cunliffe, Tom Hiscock, Nathan Preece, Owen Williams; Iain Smerdon, Rhys Downes; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Gethin Harrison; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; Cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes, Harrison Keddie.
Bench: John Lavender, Rhys Francis, Rob Sevenoaks, Rhys Clarke, Spencer Gibson, Dai Jones, Ethan Davies, Adam Jones.
Pontypridd continue to set the pace at the top of the table, but had to work hard for their 17-35 win at Aberavon.
With a fair wind assisting their endeavours, Pontypridd applied early pressure, but Aberavon then able to counter from deep. Ponty persisted in attack, moving the ball out wide for full back Matthew Nuthall to cross for a try with just three minutes gone.
Wizards outside half Nic Damjanovic, at the second attempt, put a penalty kick between the posts.
Pontypridd were next up on the attack, and with Aberavon flanker Lee Purnell yellow carded for vigorous use of the boot, outside half Simon Humberstone converted the resultant penalty. A dynamic break by Ponty centre Aled Summerhill maintained momentum, but Aberavon then stealing possession and launching a counter from deep rounded off with a try scored by full back Morgan Williams and converted by Damjanovic.
Ponty’s response was a second penalty kicked by Humberstone as the game remained fully contested although often dominated by the referee’s whistle. Ponty were showing plenty of aggression in the loose, enough to make it to the interval protecting a narrow 10-11 lead.
The second half resumed as the first had finished, end to end as Ponty applied pressure but Aberavon responding with a kick and chase counter. The match was entertaining, sometimes scrappy and still close fought.
Ponty were next up on the offensive, setting up a line out drive to the home line, the ball then whipped out for hooker Liam Belcher to charge over for a try, the conversion added from a wide angle by Humberstone. Barely two minutes later the visitors struck again, charging down a kick to send Belcher galloping over for another opportunist try.
Ponty were striving hard to up the tempo of the game, and as they advanced into the home twenty-two, saw prop James Howe high tackled with Aberavon replacement Ben Thomas yellow carded for the offence. Spurning a kick at goal Ponty set up another drive to the line, and were awarded a penalty try which Humberstone converted.
Aberavon still made determined attempts to break into their opponent’s territory, but were held at bay before Ponty countered on a foray led by wing Lewis Williams. Winning top of the line ball the Ponty pack popped the ball up for scrum half Lloyd Williams to cross for a try near the corner flag, with 68 minutes gone.
Aberavon however applied concerted pressure late on for replacement Chris Morgans to snipe through for a try which Ceiron Thomas converted.
There was still time for Ponty to launch one last attack, winger Chris Clayton going over for a score but called back for accidental off-side. The visitors by then had done more than enough to justify a convincing winning margin of 17-35.
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