by Joe Mansfield
TABLE toppers Cardiff RFC proved too much for bottom side Bridgend Ravens as they ran in five tries on their way to a 41-12 win.
The home side started the game the stronger and in the tenth minute the early pressure was rewarded with a try.
Skipper Tom Habberfield showed his side’s early intention when he made the bold decision to opt for a scrum instead of taking the kickable penalty.
The confidence shown was justified when winger Terry Gee dotted down in the corner. Despite the howling Cardiff wind, Gareth Thompson added the extras from out wide with a well struck conversion kick.
Cardiff were able to restrict the visiting side to their own 22 for large periods of the first half as the Ravens struggled to execute an exit strategy.
Bridgend paid the price for this in 23rd minute as Cardiff used their good attacking position to implement a fine set piece move to cross over once more.
This time James Beal was the try-scorer as he benefited from the fine work of Habberfield.
Just five minutes later Cardiff were at it again as another set piece resulted in another try. Man of the match Edd Howley made the initial break surging downfield and found his skipper running a good support line to add the teams third and move 21-0 ahead.
Bridgend would have been hoping for better in the second half, but the league leaders had other ideas.
They wasted no time to get back on the scoresheet when Brynley Toms peeled off an attacking maul to muscle his way over the line within a minute of the second half. Thompson added the extras once more.
The misery of the travelling side was compounded minutes later as Thompson slotted a penalty to extend the lead to 31-0.
Bridgend refused to roll over however and went on to have their best period of the game.
When Cardiff lock Gwilym Bradley was sent to the sin bin Bridgend pounced by taking the penalty quickly to allow prop Gheorge Gaijon to crash over from close range.
The visitors scored again in the 70th when a defensive blunder gifted ravens substitute Connor Tantum a try.
Cardiff winger Terry Gee was the man responsible for the error as he failed to gather a kick on his own try line and Tantum was on hand to take advantage.
The last laugh belonged to the home outfit however, they underlined their impressive display with one final try.
Joe Scrivens was the creator as the replacement out-half carried to the line before putting Bradley through a hole to march over in the 75th. Scriven converted to end the game 41-12.
Incident Log
10’ Terry Gee – Try – Converted – Gareth Thompson – Cardiff
23’ James Beard – Try – Converted – Thompson – Cardiff
29’ Tom Habberfield – Try – Converted – Thompson – Cardiff
Half Time
41’ Ethan Lewis – Try – Converted – Thompson – Cardiff
44’ Gareth Thompson – Penatlty – Cardiff
55’ Yellow Card – Gwilym Bradley – Cardiff
56’ Gheorge Gaijon – Try – Bridgend
64’ Joe Scrivens – Penalty – Cardiff
71’ Connor Tantum – Try – Converted – Jacob Chilcott – Bridgend
75’ Gwilym Bradley – Try – Converted – Scrivens Cardiff
Full Time
Teams –
Cardiff RFC
15 – Edd Howley
14 – James Beal
13 – Jack Brooks
12 – Barney Nightingale
11 – Teri Gee
10 – Gareth Thompson
9 – Tom Habberfield
1 – Brynley Thomas
2 – Evan Yardley
3 – Ollie Drake
4 – Macauley Cook
5 – Callum Bradbury
6 – Sam Pailor
7 – Luke Crocker
8 – Nathan Hudd
Subs
16 – Thomas Davies
17 – Ethan Lewis
18 – Will Davies-King
19 – Kieran Martin
20 – Gwilym Bradley
21 – Ethan Lloyd
22 – Joe Scrivens
23 – Leon Andrews
Bridgend Ravens
15 – Jamie Murphy
14 – Andrew Evans
13 – Nathan Edwards
12 – Adam Jones
11 – Dewi Cross
10 – Jacob Chilcott
9 – Chris Williams
1 – Owen Jordan
2 – Gareth Harvey
3 – Gheorge Gajion
4 – Ben Jones
5 – James Little
6 – Dafi Davies
7 – Adam O’Driscoll
8 – Rob Dudley Jones
Subs
16 – Garin Lloyd
17 – Rhys Forse
18 – Cai Lewis
19 – Jack Pope
20 – Ben Mayers Davies
21 – Connor Tantum
22 – Tyler Williams
23 – Stuart Floyd Ellis
