If Ravens coach Mike Hook was looking for a marker to show how much his side has improved since the season started then this game more than proved he has got his players on the right lines. When these two teams met on the second weekend of the season Hook’s men were beaten 50-0.
Yet two months later it was Bridgend who were the dominant force, conjuring up tries, tackling superbly and making a huge statement against the reigning champions.
The home side made their intentions obvious from the start as Joe Scrivens kicked a penalty and then Ryan Griffiths was held up on the line. Ponty, who had lost two of their last three games, looked sluggish and disinterested and were soon further behind when Marc Bennett crossed for the first of the Ravens’ four tries.
Joe Raikes grabbed a try back to make it 8-6 t the break, but then Bridgend exploded into action with centre Joe Gatt crossing twice and wing Mike Powell getting another to secure the bonus point. Full back Geraint Walsh grabbed a try to give Ponty a glimmer of hope with 15 minutes to go, but the line-speed of the Ravens defence kept them at bay.
Ebbw Vale came crashing back down to earth at Newport after their defeat of champions Pontypridd as they were beaten 34-14. It was ample revenge for the home side following their 30-6 defeat at Eugene Cross Park in September
The Black and Ambers recorded a bonus-point triumph over the Steelmen, who were forced to battle from behind right from the off. It took just three minutes for the Newport to take the lead through scrum-half Ryan James, who crashed over after a sustained pressure.
Outside-half Arwel Robson converted to make it 8-0 before he knocked over a penalty to make the most of their early dominance. The Steelmen struck back when scrum-half Tom Edwards waited for the perfect moment to splinter off a maul and score.
But Newport’s Jon Morris was on-hand to make sure the hosts took a commanding lead into half-time when he took advantage of some slick handling to score at the corner. Ashley Sweet got Ebbw Vale back in the game with a try from a driving maul before Frewen restored the gap with a solo score from a kick-return.
The visitors were up against it when prop Ross Jones picked up his second yellow card and was sent-off in the dying minutes. And ‘Man of the Match’ Frewen made the most of the space to dart over for his double and earn a bonus-point triumph.
Aberavon’s great start to the season was given a severe dent at The Bridge Field as they suffered just their second defeat of the campaign to gutsy Bedwas, 12-8.
The Wizards had been riding high in the Premiership, but were lacking attacking options in this one. Bedwas started brightly but wasted an early chance to score when Wizards’ scrum-half David Pritchard made a try-saving tackle on home back-rower James Benjamin.
There was no such luck for the Wizards minutes later when Andrew Waite crashed over the line and Richard Powell converted before a Powell penalty made it 10-0 to Bedwas. Wind and rain made conditions difficult for both sides, but the hosts stood firmest. Powell added another penalty to take the teams into half-time at 12-0.
After the interval, a yellow card shown to Bedwas flaner Josh Skinner invited the Wizards to exert heavy pressure on the hosts’ line. And after phase after phase of attack, the home line eventually wilted when the referee awarded a penalty try.
Geraint Edmunds then followed Skinner to the Bedwas bin on 65 minutes. The Wizards were thwarted by a combination of the weather and a courageous Bedwas defence.
Cross Keys stretched their winning streak to eight games with a thumping 40-24 victory over Cardiff at the BT Sport Arms Park.
The win moves Keys to the summit of the Principality Premiership after champions Pontypridd lost at Bridgend. A dominant second half display and tries from wings Nathan Trowbridge and Polo Uhi clinched the win, despite a poor start from Keys.
Cardiff centre Luke Ford opened the scoring for the Blue and Blacks after three minutes. Trowbridge quickly levelled before Cardiff lock James Murphy was shown a yellow card for foul play.
Keys made him pay, hitting the front through Uhi on 38 minutes. But the Blue and Blacks pegged them back with Nick Griffiths making it 16-16 at the break with a try that James Thomas converted.
The Blue and Blacks then faced a Keys onslaught after the restart. First, a penalty try gifted the visitors eight points on 41 minutes and then replacement Owain Leonard crashed over a minute later.
Outside-half Ethan Davies was unerring with the boot and was on hand on 59 minutes to add the extras after back-rower Scott Matthews extended the advantage to 40-16. Ford got his second of the game on 70 minutes, but it was scant consolation for Cardiff.
Llandovery proved their title credentials with a comprehensive victory over slipshod Llanelli at Parc Y Scarlets, running out 32-8 victors.
The Drovers have been impressive this term and sit fourth in the table after this triumph. Two tries in quick succession saw Llandovery take firm control of the first-half – and the match.
Young loose head Wyn Jones put in a powerful display, starting the scoring after 12 minutes with a pick-and-go from the ruck and outside-half Jack Maynard ably converted. Five minutes later wing Aaron Warren scored after Maynard crafted a flowing move.
Maynard converted to give The Drovers a 16-point lead going into the break, but the hosts then hit Llandovery with an early try after the break. Scarlets player Jack Condy charged over from close range and outside-half Billy McBride converted to halve the deficit.
The resurgence was short-lived. Llandovery capitalised on a Llanelli mistake when a loose ball fell into the hands of Matthew Jacobs and the wing gladly ran across the line to restore the Drovers’ lead.
The game was neatly wrapped-up when substitute hooker Dafydd Hughes ran in unopposed from 20 metres to pick up the bonus point and guide the visitors to a comfortable margin of victory.
Carmarthen Quins won a crucial basement battle 32-22 over rock-bottom Neath at The Gnoll. The hosts performed bravely, but remain winless after nine gruelling games this season.
Two Dylan Morgan tries proved the difference between the sides. Morgan’s opening try came after Neath outside-half Craig Evans missed a pass and the Quins wing smashed through two tackles to score.
The visitors proceeded to pile on the pressure with Wales U20 hooker Ryan Elias powering over. The Quins pack remained firmly on top and loose-head Gethin Robinson extended their lead to make it 18-0 at the interval.
After being outmuscled in the first-half the Welsh All Blacks produced a competitive display in the second period, starting with Ryan Evans’ effort on 45 minutes. Quins responded through star man Morgan, who bagged his second of the game a minute after Evans’ score.
Wing Gavin Thomas then put the result beyond doubt with a try in the corner on 55 minutes. Yet Neath kept plugging away and they earned a penalty try minutes later following a forceful driving line-out.
Quins outside-half Evans kicked a penalty on 67 minutes, before replacement prop Aled Morris crossed for a consolation try for Neath.
