Gareth lifts the Ravens

Jan 27 2008 by Staff Reporter, Wales On Sunday

Bulith Wells 10-45 Bridgend

SKIPPER Gareth David scored 20 points as Ravens saw off brave Bulls to reach the last 16.

Full-back David grabbed one of Bridgend’s six tries, converted all of them, and kicked a penalty.

“Builth gave us a good game. Now we want to go all the way and win the Cup,” he said last night.

Centre John Thurston got all Builth’s points, converting his 56th minute try and landing a penalty that earned a brief 3-0 lead.

Builth-born Mark Jones, Scarlets and Wales wing, watched the Bulls come back strongly in the third quarter after being 24-3 down at half-time.

Justin Lewis, Builth’s director of rugby said: “We worked really hard against a well organised side.

“And we did our division proud.”

Ravens’ head coach Chris Stephens said: “Builth deserve all credit for the fight they put up.”

Bridgendscored three tries in the last 18 minutes.

There were phases when Builth certainly did not play like a side with only four wins from 11 games in the Division Two East.

Bridgend No 8 Gareth Williams was yellow carded when they were 14-3 up.

And Builth skipper and flanker Wayne Morris was sin-binned just before Thurston’s try.

Builth Wells: Try – J Thurston; Con – Thurston; Pen – Thurston.

Bridgend: Tries – D Connolly, G David, I Dobbs, G Howells, D Bishop, L Ronan; Cons – David (6); Pen – David.