By: Paul Hopkins
A stunning second half display saw the All Whites make it back-to-back wins as they defeated Bridgend in an ill-tempered and topsy turvy game at St Helen’s.
It was a very tactical start to the game with both sides aiming for that all important territorial advantage. Fly half Luke Scully chipped through deep into the Bridgend 22, but it was well defended by full back Lloyd Wilkins, who spun out of a tackle and set up a platform for scrum half Harvey Nash to safely clear into touch.
Lock Cai Arnold took the lineout and number eight Jacob Hopkins eased over the 22, before the ball was swept out wide to winger Harvey James, who in turn made good yards. The Ravens were penalised for offside so full back Josh Phillips kicked his side ahead with a three pointer.
Harvey James spilled the ball forward at the restart to gift the visitors a scrum on the Swansea 22. The Ravens were then awarded a penalty, which fly half Ben Burnell chipped into the corner, although the lineout throw wasn’t straight and the Whites cleared long.
Phillips lost the ball forward on halfway from a high kick to give the Ravens an attacking chance, but lock James Richards was yellow carded for a dangerous challenge.
Scully found touch inside the Bridgend 22 and Arnold took the lineout, with Hopkins powering over the gainline. Then a super little chip was chased down by centre Joe Thomas, who touched down for the opening try. Phillips missed the conversion.
A struggling home pack retreated at a set piece and Scully dropped the ball under pressure when play was spread to the backs. Instead it was the Ravens who made hay with the unexpected chance, with the ball sent out wide for winger McCauley Rowley to score. Burnell missed the conversion.
It seemed to give the visitors a boost as they began another attack immediately, but Phillips stayed calm to mark the ball in his own 22 and clear long.
The home side looked to attack again and prop Morgan James was brought down, before lock Theo Currie made a half break, but his pop up pass to Thomas was poor and he knocked the ball forward.
Centre Ryan Wilkins almost made a break through the middle, but was well tackled, and the supporting Ravens player was penalised for diving over the top of the ruck. Scully chipped up to the 22 with his touch finder, but Currie lost control of the lineout. The Whites kept possession though, but not for long as the visitors gained a turnover and cleared.
In a moment of madness, centre Callum Carson was shown a 20 minute red card for a dangerous clear out, also allowing Burnell to find touch inside the Swansea 22. The Ravens made the most of the man advantage immediately when the ball was swept along the backs out for number eight Ioan Davies to score in the corner. Burnell converted.
A powerful rolling maul by the All Whites’ pack travelled 20 metres and Scully threw a long pass out wide to Harvey James, who raced into the 22. Currie managed to get a pass away to Thomas but he was stopped five metres out, but a mistake followed with Bridgend able to clear.
The Ravens should have scored moments later when winger Cameron Ellis chipped ahead, but outstanding scrambling back by the home side prevented a certain try. It mattered little though as scrum half Kai Inker had his kick charged down, allowing Richards to squeeze over for a try at the next phase. Burnell converted.
Half-time: Swansea 8-19 Bridgend
The Ravens were on the attack immediately after half time and replacement number eight Morgan Boobyer powered forward, before the ball was swept out wide to Rowley, but he lost the ball forward over the line. Burnell chipped to the corner and Richards took the lineout, but a pass out wide was poor and replacement prop Tom Crockett managed an interception to prevent a certain try.
Bridgend attacked again with hooker McKenzie Scales charging forward, but the following crossfield kick was taken into touch by a Whites player to gift the Ravens a close range lineout.
A routine lineout saw the ball sent into the backline, with prop Marc Thomas stopped a metre short, before the ball was recycled out wide. Burnell again chipped to the corner, but an outstanding defensive effort by the home side earned a turnover.
Rowley made a superb break over halfway, but an outstanding tackle by Scully on replacement full back Fraser Jones forced him to throw the ball forward.
Replacement number eight Jake Roberts popped up to power over the gainline and substitute centre Jack Hoskins superbly rose to collect a high ball, but the All Whites tried to force a pass too many, allowing the Ravens to clear.
A Burnell kick for territory drifted over the dead ball line to give the Whites a scrum midway between halfway and the Ravens’ 22, but the visitors regained possession and cleared.
The home side came desperately close to scoring when Inker made a superb sniping break, but the supporting replacement hooker Jamie Cox dropped the ball over the line.
Arnold collected a lineout on the Bridgend 22 and a clever move involving Inker and Thomas sent flanker Sam Morgan over for a try in the corner. Phillips dragged the conversion wide.
Burnell’s restart went out on the full to gift the All Whites a scrum on halfway. A well weighted kick put the Ravens under pressure, and Inker superbly charged down a clearance kick to regather and score. Scully missed the conversion.
Replacement fly half Luke Price was penalised for holding on after the tackle, allowing Burnell to chip to the corner, but Morgan stole in at the lineout. The Ravens came again though and tried to spread the ball out through the backline, but replacement winger Matthew Aubrey nipped in to unceremoniously hack the ball clear.
The home side were awarded a penalty at the scrum and Scully found touch deep inside the Ravens’ 22. Currie took the lineout and the Whites drove forward with flanker Callum Bowden crashing over for a try to take his side into the lead with five minutes remaining. Scully converted.
Swansea were awarded a penalty with three minutes on the clock, but Scully missed his effort at goal. Flanker Benji Williams was penalised for a shoulder tackle and also shown a yellow card. Scully missed touch, although Burnell couldn’t catch the high ball to gift the Whites a scrum inside the Bridgend half.
In the dying seconds the Ravens tried everything to break through the Swansea defence, but the ball was spilled forward into the grateful arms of Inker who raced clear to score an opportunistic try under the posts. Scully converted.
The Super Rygbi Cymru Trophy now takes a three week break during the autumn internationals, so the next match for Swansea is a trip to Newport, while Bridgend host RGC 1404.
Full-time: Swansea 32-19 Bridgend
Swansea:
Tries:- Joe Thomas (13), Sam Morgan (61), Kai Inker (64, 80+5), Callum Bowden (76)
Cons:- Luke Scully (77, 80+6)
Pens:- Josh Phillips (5)
Yellow cards:- Matthew Aubrey (50)
20-minute Red cards:- Callum Carson (32)
Bridgend:
Tries:- McCauley Rowley (18), Ioan Davies (34), James Richards (40)
Cons:- Ben Burnell (35, 40+1)
Yellow cards:- James Richards (12), Benji Williams (80+1)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Clear, 11°C
Man of the match:-
Attendance:- 800
Swansea team:
15 Josh Phillips (cc)
14 Brandon Wood (rep: Jack Hoskins 41)
13 Callum Carson (rep: Luke Price 50)
12 Joe Thomas
11 Harvey James (rep: Matthew Aubrey 41)
10 Luke Scully
9 Kai Inker
1 Morgan James (rep: Tom Crockett 41)
2 Osian Oliver (rep: Jamie Cox 50)
3 Kian Hire (rep: Kamren Harris 77)
4 Theo Currie
5 Cai Arnold (rep: Chris Thompson 77)
6 Sam Morgan
7 Callum Bowden (cc)
8 Jacob Hopkins (rep: Jake Roberts 53)
Replacements:
16 Jamie Cox
17 Tom Crockett
18 Kamren Harris
19 Chris Thompson
20 Jake Roberts
21 Matthew Aubrey
22 Luke Price
23 Jack Hoskins
Bridgend team:
15 Lloyd Wilkins (rep: Fraser Jones 50)
14 McCauley Rowley
13 Ryan Conbeer
12 Ryan Wilkins
11 Cameron Ellis
10 Ben Burnell
9 Harvey Nash (rep: Joseph Gatt 51)
1 Marc Thomas
2 McKenzie Scales (rep: Dominiko Manaseitava 51)
3 Callum Donoghue-Proud
4 Cai Davies (rep: Rhys Dauncey 51)
5 James Richards (rep: Morgan Boobyer 59)
6 Benji Williams
7 Thomas Jevons © (rep: Morgan Boobyer 12-16)
8 Ioan Davies (rep: Morgan Boobyer 41 (rep: Zach O’Driscoll 58))
Replacements:
16 Dominiko Manaseitava
17 Alex George
18 Harry Peckett
19 Rhys Dauncey
20 Morgan Boobyer
21 Zach O’Driscoll
22 Fraser Jones
23 Joseph Gatt