Bridgend 14 Ulster Ravens 40

Ulster Ravens got the weekend off to a superb start in South Wales, with a convincing 40 points to 14 victory in their final British and Irish Cup match of the season.

Allen Clarke’s side ran in five first half tries – six in total, to record a bonus point win against the Principality Premiership team.

Fullback Adam D’Arcy started the scoring run after just four minutes. Backrow forward, Ali Birch, crossed for his first try of the night two minutes later. With just 12 minutes on the clock, the Ravens got their third try of the night, when D’Arcy finished off a great backline move.

Bridgend scrum-half, Tom Graham, got the home side’s first try of the night but the Ravens hit back with tries from Ali Birch and Niall Annett to secure the bonus point and to open up a commanding lead at half-time.

The second half was much closer. Ravens second-row, James Simpson, was yellow carded and shortly after Bridgend hooker, Ash James, rumbled over before substitute Conor Joyce crossed for the Ravens sixth try of the night.

Niall O’Connor hit the conversion to make it five out of six for him on what was an excellent display with the boot.

Despite the win, the Ravens cannot qualify for the knock-out stages of the competition, but six tries away from home was a fantastic way to end their participation in this season’s competition.