After the unfortunate events of the Coronavirus outbreak the Indigo Group Welsh Premiership has been Cancelled with no team announced as Champions, no relegation or promotion via the Championship.
Photo Credit: Bridgend Ravens Website
Team: Bridgend Ravens
Position: 12th
Bridgend Ravens are lucky not to have been relegated this season after finding themselves eight points adrift of Ebbw Vale at the bottom of the table with four games to go. The Brewery Field based side only won three games all season with home victories against Merthyr and Swansea, and a victory on the road at Ebbw Vale.
The Ravens’ opening game of the season was at home to Aberavon and they led 26-24 going into the last minute. A late Aberavon penalty resulted in a 26-27 defeat, which was just one of six last minute losses for Bridgend this season. These were at home against Pontypridd and Carmarthen Quins, and away to Llanelli, Newport and Pontypridd.
Their first win of the season came in October in a 17-12 victory over Merthyr. The Ravens led 17-0 at the break and held off a late Merthyr comeback. December was the highlight month on the field for Bridgend, with two consecutive wins against Ebbw Vale and Swansea. An 18-15 win at Eugene Cross Park came courtesy of the boot of Full-Back Owen Howe who kicked six penalties. Howe finished as their top point scorer with 99 points this term. A week later a 17-3 win at home over Swansea came via tries from Winger Dewi Cross and Back-Row Ryan Hall.
In off the field news, in January the Ravens confirmed the Club would return to a community owned, members run club. They will continue their relationship with the Ospreys as part of their development pathway system.
In a season full of ups and downs, the one standout player throughout was 20-year-old Dewi Cross. The young Osprey Winger from Pencoed RFC has impressed this season, finishing as their top Try-scorer after crossing the line five times. He has also been a nuisance to many sides’ defences throughout the season.
Bridgend knew they were in for a tough season after narrowly avoiding relegation last year, but they were optimistic about their chances at the start of the season. Captain Nathan Edwards said “Overall the season was disappointing as a squad, we didn’t achieve what we wanted too.
“We did show glimpses of class in some of our performances and I couldn’t have asked for more from our squad, the resilience we showed to overcome some of the adversity that we faced was a testament to the team.”
On how the last-minute defeats affected the squad Edwards said, “There have been some extremely dark times this year, especially after the last-minute defeats we’ve overcome. To lose once in the last play it damages morale but to do it six times is indescribable. Some of the performances in those games were our best of the season.”
“We never gave up, we’d come in every Tuesday, refocus ourselves then think of ways we could improve ready for the next game. The atmosphere at the club never changed, we pride ourselves on being together.”
On the chances of being relegated, Edwards emphasised that they were realistic about the challenge ahead of them, “We were prepared for any eventuality, but that didn’t mean that we’d accept it. We had a number of games left and were still mathematically capable of staying up.”
On the improvements for next season, “the biggest thing we can improve is the consistency of our performances. There’s been times when we’ve played extremely well and followed it up the next week with a dreadful performance.”
“I don’t think we’re the weakest team in the league despite the fact we finished 12th. It’s a matter of us being more focused next season week in week out.”
by Tobias Hunt
Tobias' Sports Journalism Blog 