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Cross Keys claim first scalp

Cross Keys claim first scalp

Cross Keys gained their first win of the season with a 35-15 victory over Bridgend at a sun-drenched Pandy Park.

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Keys opened the scoring through two Dean Gunter penalties in quick succession before captain Rob Nash went over for his side’s opening try of the campaign. Gunter added the extras with a straight forward conversion and added his third penalty shortly after.

Nash’s back row colleague Jamie Sollis, who enjoyed a fine game throughout, crossed the whitewash after half an hour with Gunter again adding the conversion to put his side further clear.

Despite a convincing lead, Keys were dealt a double blow before half-time when Danny Hodge was sin-binned. As the lock returned to the field, Number 8 Adam Powell was also binned for a technical offence at a ruck although the home side managed to maintain a 23-12 lead at the interval.

Early in the second half Keys defence soaked up long periods of Ravens’ pressure and this proved vital as the home side used the slope towards the clubhouse to their advantage.

Luke Ford got his first try for the club finishing off a move that seemed to involve most of the Keys players. Gunter failed to add the extras and it looked as though the bonus point would escape Keys’ grasp as they failed to take advantage of a number of attacking opportunities.

In reply, five penalties from fullback Ross Jones were all that the Ravens could manage.

But Keys took advantage of a clever box kick from replacement scrum half Jonathan Lewis which caused panic in the Bridgend defence, with Nathan Trowbridge finishing off the move and securing a both a bonus point and Keys’ first win of the season.

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