In a winner takes all contest for the fourth and final quarter-final place from the west, the visitors were helped by a touch of good fortune when Howley chipped the ball down the wing and got lucky when it bounced off his head and enabled him to cross for the matchwinning try.
It was nip and tuck all the way through with Bridgend deservedly taking the lead when Howley glided through a couple of weak tackles in midfield before firing a scoring pass to Cameron Ellis.
Ravens lock Kieran Martin was yellow carded for pulling down a maul and moments later Connor Tantum took a quick tap penalty and fed Llien Morgan for a try out wide. With both scores converted it was 7-7 at the break.
The Ravens began the second half in dangerous fashion with Caine Woolerton making a break, before Dafi Davies powered through a tackle, only for the supporting Chris Williams to be taken out dangerously by Hanno Dirksen, who was yellow carded. That allowed ex-Wales outside half Matthew Jones to kick the visitors back into the lead.
Moments later Dafi Davies was yellow carded for deliberate offside and Marc Popham levelled again. Popham added another to edge the Whites into the lead, but Jones matched it to make it 13-13.
Then came the final flourish from Edd ‘on the head’ Howley, with Jones added the extras off the touchline.
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧..
A moment of genius from @eddhowlz booked our place in the @IndigoGroupPrem Cup Quarter Final next year! 🤩
— Bridgend Ravens (@bridgendravens) November 28, 2021
Rhodri Jones was the Llandovery hero as he crossed for the decisive score at the death to earn his side a 27-21 victory over Aberavon and top spot in the west table.
In a terrific battle for first place, the home side came from behind to complete the double over the Wizards and leapfrog them in the table as both went through to the quarter-finals in the new year.
Aberavon were in complete control in the opening quarter building up a 14-0 lead with tries from scrum half Rhodri Cole and outside half Joe Thomas. Full back Chris Banfield converted them both.
Llandovery hit back with a try by wing Ashley Evans, which Kris Jones improved, to cut the gap at the break to seven points.
In the second half, the revitalised Drovers looked to have made the game safe with a try by wing Aaron Warren and eight points from the ever accurate boot of Jones. But Aberavon refused to lie down and regained the lead with a corner try from replacement Jon Phillips.
The touchline conversion from teenage starlet Dan Edwards edged them one point ahead with time running out. Llandovery eventually snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when they attacked from a line out.
Some great continuity by backs and forwards saw Rhodri Jones wriggle over for a try that namesake Kris converted.
Llanelli sped into a 15-5 interval lead at Carmarthen Park thanks to three tries from front row forwards, two of them provided by hooker Morgan MacRe. But Carmarthen Quins hit back with the wind behind them in the second half and went on to complete the double with a 26-15 bonus-point triumph.
