By: Paul Hopkins
Swansea let slip a 16 point lead in the last quarter as Bridgend showed a never-say-die attitude to secure a place in the Super Rygbi Cymru quarter-finals.
Full back Harri Houston collected a clearance kick from opposite number Edd Howley but ran into traffic, but prop Ed Thompson managed to offload a pass to hooker Will Austin, but number eight Cai Davies dropped a routine pass.
Winger Iwan Glynn superbly took a high ball and a box kick by scrum half Matthew Aubrey was well taken by opposite number Chris Williams, who juggled the ball, but his forwards lost possession at the breakdown.
Lock Ben Roberts took a lineout on half way and Austin took an Aubrey box kick, but a poor chip kick by fly half Josh Phillips sailed out on the full.
Flanker Alfie Llewellyn this time took a lineout on half way and centre Tom Florence collected a chip and chase to get Bridgend up to the 22, but flanker Zac O’Driscoll dropped the ball under pressure.
This time it was winger Cameron Ellis who rose high to collect a Garryowen but his side wasted the chance, allowing Houston to clear long.
Swansea gave away a penalty on half way when the chasers strayed in front of a poor Aubrey box kick. Fly half Ben Burnell chipped up to within a few metres of the 22 to give the Ravens an attacking lineout.
Llewellyn took the lineout and another penalty followed soon after when a Swansea tackler failed to roll away. Burnell found touch well inside the 22, but a malfunctioning lineout gifted possession back to the Whites.
Austin was penalised for hands the ruck and it was a familiar tale of Burnell finding touch on the Swansea 22. Lock Lewis Jones took the lineout and this time the Ravens chose a rolling maul, but it was well defended and the home side spread it wide instead. Jones spotted a gap in the defence and almost broke clear, but Bridgend again lost possession and gave away a penalty.
Austin showed good strength to power into Bridgend territory before winger Tom Edwards popped up to send Aubrey over for a try…or so it seemed…as play was brought back for a forward pass following an intervention from the TMO.
Winger Jake Thomas made a superb break up to the Swansea 22 but lost possession and flanker Owen Thomas collected the ball on the ground, although Houston kicked possession away.
Austin stole in at the back of a Ravens’ lineout and the visitors were awarded a penalty on the 22. Phillips opened the scoring with a three pointer.
A superb pass by Burnell found Jones, who superbly found a gap in the Swansea defence and handed a scoring pass to the pacey Williams. Burnell converted.
A superb counter truck by the Bridgend backs got their side out of trouble, and Howley raced into the Swansea half, although centre Ryan Wilkins stepped into touch on the opposing wing.
Phillips found touch midway between half way and the Bridgend 22 with a penalty and flanker Joe Greaves took the lineout, before Houston and centre Callum Dodd tried to charge through the middle, but hooker Evan Yardley was penalised for holding on after the tackle.
Winger Cameron Ellis superbly plucked a high ball out of the sky and found Williams who juggled the ball, before the pack rumbled towards the line, but a superb defensive effort by the All Whites turned over possession.
Howley kept cool and calm to collect the ball with Glynn bearing down on him, and it allowed Houston to clear the ball long.
Houston turned on the pace and raced into the Bridgend half, finding centre Joe Thomas in support, but Jake Thomas was penalised for a deliberate knock on, giving the referee no option but to show him a yellow card.
It paid off straightaway as Phillips chipped to the corner and a superbly controlled rolling maul saw Austin power over for a try. Phillips converted.
The Ravens looked to hit straight back with Ellis and O’Driscoll making yards, before Yardley dropped a pass out wide.
Burnell was penalised for holding on after the tackle to give the Whites a late penalty, which Phillips successfully kicked.
Half-time:- Bridgend 7-13 Swansea
Afte the interval Phillips found touch midway between half way and the Bridgend 22 with a penalty with lock Liam Edwards taking the lineout to allow his side to get the ball out wide, but a misjudged high kick by Phillips sailed out on the full.
A strange chip ahead by Florence was well taken by the Whites, with Glynn chipping ahead into Bridgend territory but the Ravens dealt with the danger.
Owen Thomas ran back at the Ravens and the ball popped out to Cai Davies in midfield, who raced clear to score under the posts. Phillips converted.
Prop Daf Davies lost the ball forward on his own 22 to gift the Ravens an attacking scrum. Burnell popped up in midfield but was tackled by Owen Thomas, although it was deemed high and the home side were awarded a penalty.
Replacement centre Luke Price chose to kick to the corner and Jones took the lineout and tried a clever throw back to Yardley, but he dropped the ball over the try line.
Bridgend came again through Florence, before a clever dummy by Price sent Ellis racing through the middle, and then Williams popped up for his second try in the corner. Price converted.
The visitors were awarded a penalty after the home side failed to release the player in the tackle. Phillips kicked his side nine points ahead.
Prop Ed Thompson superbly intercepted a Bridgend pass, in which could have resulted in a dangerous attack for the Ravens, and a high tackle compounded the home side’s woes. Phillips chipped inside the 22 with his touch finder.
Roberts took the lineout and the visitors formed a rolling maul and the Whites battered the Ravens’ line, before getting the ball out for Tom Edwards to score at the corner. Burnell converted.
Thomas rose high to collect the restart and the visitors were penalised for an offside offence. Price chipped deep into the corner and number eight Thomas Jevons took the lineout, before replacement hooker Corey Lewis was driven over for a try. Price missed the conversion.
Burnell made a break as Bridgend looked to get back into the game and replacement lock Daniel Bartlett used his pace and power to break through a couple of tackles, with the Ravens spreading play wide. Phillips almost snuck in to race downfield, but play was brought back for a knock on.
From the scrum, a superb link up between Howley and Burnell saw the latter ghost over for a superb Ravens try. Price converted.
A superb run by Ellis took play over half way as the Ravens threatened to run riot, but a forward pass brought an end to the move.
A moment of ill-discipline by the Whites gave the home side a penalty, which Price chipped deep into the corner. Bartlett took the lineout and the Ravens’ pack drove forward for Lewis to score and retake the lead for Bridgend against all the odds. Price converted.
The visitors tried everything to inch forward into Bridgend territory and Houston danced his way past a few tackles in spectacular style, with Roberts popping up to power forward.
The home side were awarded a penalty and opted for a scrum five under the posts. Swansea camped on the Ravens’ line, before Houston was well wrapped up, but another penalty followed.
This time Phillips chipped into the corner and replacement lock Matt Dodd took the lineout, but outstanding defence by the Ravens kept Swansea out, and ensured they booked a place in the quarter-finals where they travel to face Cardiff.
Full-time:- Bridgend 33-30 Swansea
Bridgend:
Tries:- Chris Williams (27, 54), Corey Lewis (67, 80+1), Ben Burnell (74)
Cons:- Ben Burnell (28), Luke Price (55, 75, 80+2)
Yellow cards:- Jake Thomas (38)
Swansea:
Tries:- Will Austin (39), Cai Davies (48), Tom Edwards (63)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (40, 49, 64)
Pens:- Josh Phillips (23, 40+3, 57)
Match facts:
Venue:- Brewery Field, Bridgend
Weather:- Sunny, 13C
Referee:- Mike English
Man of the match:- Lewis Jones
Attendance:- 1,200
Bridgend team:
15 Edd Howley
14 Cameron Ellis
13 Ryan Wilkins (rep: Luke Price 49)
12 Tom Florence (rep: Corum Nott 72)
11 Jake Thomas
10 Ben Burnell
9 Chris Williams (rep: Callaghan Smith 77)
1 Harry Olding
2 Evan Yardley (rep: Corey Lewis 55)
3 Liam Tobias (rep: Owen Hatherill 72)
4 Lewis Jones (rep: Kyle Harris 77)
5 Dylan Burrows (rep: Daniel Bartlett 64)
6 Alfie Llewellyn
7 Zac O’Driscoll
8 Thomas Jevons
Replacements:
16 Corey Lewis
17 Alex George
18 Owen Hatherill
19 Daniel Bartlett
20 Kyle Harris
21 Callaghan Smith
22 Corum Nott
23 Luke Price
Swansea team:
15 Harri Houston
14 Iwan Glynn
13 Callum Dodd
12 Joe Thomas
11 Tom Edwards (rep: Ieuan Cornelius 75)
10 Josh Phillips
9 Matthew Aubrey (rep: Iwan Temblett (77)
1 Daf Davies (rep: Tom Crockett 75)
2 Will Austin
3 Ed Thompson (rep: Ellis Fackrell 75)
4 Liam Edwards (rep: Matt Dodd 68)
5 Ben Roberts
6 Joe Greaves (rep: Dan Gemine 55)
7 Owen Thomas ©
8 Cai Davies (rep: Chris Thompson 77)
Replacements:
16 Dan Gemine
17 Tom Crockett
18 Ellis Fackrell
19 Matt Dodd
20 Chris Thompson
21 Iwan Temblett
22 James Price
23 Ieuan Cornelius