By: Paul Hopkins
The All Whites were put to the sword by a clinical Bridgend side who celebrated a double in the space of five days over Hugh Gustafson’s men.
It actually began in a quite promising fashion for the visitors when lock Evan Hill took a lineout on half way, but winger Tom Edwards collected a Chris Williams box kick. Flanker Geraint Powell created space out wide, and a superb break and chip ahead by Tom Edwards forced full back Edd Howley into a clearance near his own line.
Lock Ben Roberts took the lineout and a high kick by fly half Josh Phillips was dealt with by Bridgend, with winger McCauley Rowley managing to wriggle through a few tackles, before the move lost impetus and Howley found touch inside the Swansea 22 with a grubber kick.
Flanker Alfie Llewelyn took the lineout but fly half Ben Burnell was tackled and lost possession, although full back Lewis Edwards’ chip ahead sailed out on the full.
Flanker Zac O’Driscoll failed to take the lineout and the All Whites stole possession, with a game of ping pong between Howley and Lewis Edwards ending with the Ravens’ forwards claiming possession inside their own half.
The visitors were awarded a free kick just shy of the Bridgend 22 and following a chip through Rowley made a mess of gathering possession. Play was brought back for an earlier offside and Phillips kicked his side into the lead.
The Ravens hit back with a superb try when winger Carum Nott made a break out wide and chipped through for centre Ryan Wilkins to beat his man to score in the corner. Burnell converted.
A similar try followed for the All Whites when centre Callum Carson fired a pass out wide for winger Callum Dodd to chip over the top, with scrum half Matthew Aubrey easily beating Hill to touch down for the five pointer. Phillips converted.
The visitors gave away a penalty at a scrum on half way with Burnell finding touch inside the 22. The Whites’ pack were penalised for pulling down a maul and this time Burnell dinked play right into the corner for an attacking lineout. Hill took the lineout and a powerful rolling maul saw number eight Thomas Jevons crash over for a try. Burnell converted.
Number eight Cai Davies charged over half way after collecting a long kick and Aubrey attempted a crossfield kick, but Tom Edwards wasn’t able to collect before the ball bounced into touch.
A well weighted kick by Rowley forced Dodd to ground the ball inside his in-goal line, and from the drop out Burnell made a break and fired an inside pass to O’Driscoll, before the forwards drove towards the line with prop Liam Tobias claiming the score on his 50th appearance for the club. Burnell missed the conversion.
Hooker Evan Yardley stole in at the back of a Swansea lineout and Rowley chipped ahead, and although Lewis Edwards gathered possession, Rowley charged down his kick, but was just beaten to the line by an All White defender, and Aubrey was finally able to clear.
Wilkins then chipped ahead but the chaser was deemed offside giving Swansea a much needed penalty, which Phillips kicked into the Bridgend half. From the next play the Ravens’ defence was caught offside and Phillips missed his first effort at goal all season.
Half-time:- Bridgend 19-10 Swansea
Dodd superbly stole in to take a loose ball after centre Tom Florence fumbled possession, but a poor mistake saw Nott pounce on a Carson miss-pass and he sprinted clear to score a bonus point try. Burnell converted.
The home side were penalised just short of their own 22 and Phillips chose to kick to the corner. A good lineout take by Roberts saw the visitors attack and Burnell was penalised for offside. Realising the desperate situation, Phillips again chose to kick to the corner.
Roberts took the lineout again and found Phillips on a crash ball, but outstanding defence forced him to hold on after the tackle.
A clever move involving Wilkins, Nott and Chris Williams almost resulted in an end to end try for the home side, but Burnell took the wrong option as his chip ahead was easily dealt with by the Whites.
A superb break by Howley opened up the Swansea defence and he dummied a pass out wide, before sending an inside pass to Chris Williams for a superb try. Burnell dragged his conversion attempt wide.
A clever switch of play by Burnell won a 50/22 for the home side. Replacement lock Dylan Burrows took the lineout on the 22, but the home side were penalised for blocking.
Replacement winger Harri Williams tried a clever kick across field and play was brought back for a penalty, which Phillips superbly chipped deep into the corner. The move came to an end though when hooker Dom Hey’s lineout throw was poor and the Ravens collected the ball to clear.
Lewis Edwards fielded a high kick, but chipped the ball back to the Ravens, and a Chris Williams box kick was almost collected by his side, but the visitors knocked forward.
Nott came close to adding another try when another clever switch by Burnell saw the winger chip over the top, but Lewis Edwards got back to defend, and a high tackle on him gifted the Whites a relieving penalty.
Powell took the lineout but this time it was the visitors who were guilty of obstruction at the set piece. Burnell kicked to the corner with the penalty, however an infringement at the lineout allowed Bridgend to clear.
Replacement flanker Dan Gemine made a powerful run upfield and substitute winger Brandon Wood chipped ahead, although Burnell superbly got back to defend and overeager play by the visitors gave Bridgend a penalty.
The Ravens looked to attack again and a clever piece of passing between Florence, replacement scrum half Harvey Nash saw substitute winger Travis Huntley pop up to score under the posts. Burnell converted.
Phillips found touch in the Bridgend half with a penalty as his side went in search of a consolation score. Replacement lock Sam Pailor took the lineout and the visitors were awarded another penalty after the Ravens failed to release the man in the tackle. Phillips found touch deep inside the Swansea 22 with his penalty.
The home side took a quick free kick through replacement prop Kian Hire, but the Ravens’ defence again crept offside. Substitute scrum half Aron Hemmings this time took the set piece quickly, but the home pack superbly held the ball up in the tackle.
Next up for the All Whites is a home match against Cardiff, while Bridgend travel to the Talbot Athletic Ground to face Aberavon.
Full-time:- Bridgend 38-10 Swansea
Bridgend:
Tries:- Ryan Wilkins (14), Thomas Jevons (24), Liam Tobias (31), Corum Nott (43), Chris Williams (56), Travis Huntley 75)
Cons:- Ben Burnell (15, 25, 44, 76)
Swansea:
Tries:- Matthew Aubrey (17)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (18)
Pens:- Josh Phillips (12)
Match facts:
Venue:- Morganstone Brewery Field, Bridgend
Weather:- Clear, 11C
Referee:- Rhys Jones
Man of the match:- Ben Burnell
Attendance:- 1,000
Bridgend team:
15 Edd Howley
14 McCauley Rowley (rep: Tom Morgan 61)
13 Ryan Wilkins
12 Tom Florence
11 Corum Nott (rep: Travis Huntley 68)
10 Ben Burnell
9 Chris Williams (rep: Harvey Nash 65)
1 Harry Olding (rep: Alex George 72)
2 Evan Yardley (rep: Curtis Greenslade 45)
3 Liam Tobias (rep: James Williams 72)
4 Evan Hill
5 Barnaby Waddell (rep: Dylan Burrows 57)
6 Alfie Llewellyn
7 Zac O’Driscoll ©
8 Thomas Jevons (rep: Kyle Harris 61)
Replacements:
16 Curtis Greenslade
17 Alex George
18 James Williams
19 Dylan Burrows
20 Kyle Harris
21 Harvey Nash
28 Travis Huntley
23 Tom Morgan
Swansea team:
15 Lewis Edwards
14 Tom Edwards (rep: Brandon Wood 45)
13 Joe Thomas
12 Callum Carson
11 Callum Dodd (rep: Harri Williams 57)
10 Josh Phillips
9 Matthew Aubrey (rep: Aron Hemmings 54)
1 Ed Thompson (rep: Freddie Chapman 54)
2 Dom Hey (rep: Ellis Fackrell 72)
3 Chris Davies (rep: Kian Hire 45)
4 Chris Thompson (rep: Sam Pailor 65)
5 Ben Roberts
6 Geraint Powell
7 Callum Bowden © (rep: Dan Gemine 65)
8 Cai Davies
Replacements:
16 Ellis Fackrell
17 Freddie Chapman
18 Kian Hire
19 Sam Pailor
20 Dan Gemine
21 Aron Hemmings
22 Harri Williams
23 Brandon Wood