CROSS Keys won their third match in a row in fairly comfortable fashion after a poor and scrappy match against a Bridgend side who are still looking for the first league points of the season following their fifth straight defeat.

The Gwent Valleys side had put Bedwas and Llanelli to the sword in their last two matches but this was a grind against the gritty Swalec Cup holders determined to make a contest of it after such a disappointing start to the season.

Keys only made absolutely sure of victory in the final few minutes but it must be said they were never in serious trouble of being denied their triumph.

It was a terrible spectacle which had started in fairly lively fashion.

But the encounter was marred by the whistle of referee Rhys Thomas who heavily penalised both sides for not releasing quickly enough at the breakdown or for players going off their feet.to the extent he spoke to both sides about the problem after just 15 minutes.

True to his word, the official yellow carded Ravens skipper and blindside flanker Zac O'Driscoll when he was pinged about 60 seconds later.

He went on to deal more cards than a Monte Carlo casino blackjack croupier.

Keys began to put the squeeze on 14-man Bridgend but the visitors defended stoutly in their own 22 and twice turned the ball over before the home juggernaut could get out of second gear.

Bridgend were down to 13 men when openside flanker Lloyd Evans joined his captain in the sin bin for a few seconds just before O'Driscoll returned to the field.

A lack of accuracy of execution by the hosts meant they couldn't take advantage and their No 7 Reuben Tucker was soon yellow carded for yet another breakdown offence.

The Ravens were down to 13 men again when lock Rhodri Hughes got 10 minutes when he killed the ball after Keys put together a good passage of play to nearly score after No 8 Ieuan Jones took a quick tap to send centres Polu Uhi and Leon Andrews away.

From the ensuing scrum five, the Gwent Valleys side's scrum half James Leadbeater celebrated his 100th appearance for the club in style with a try, converted by No 10 Ethan Davies in the 35th minute.

The quality of play didn't improve in the second 40 minutes and a fist fight among the forwards early on at a lineout summed up the feeling of helpless frustration.

Keys brought on their front row reinforcements Luke Garrett, Darren Hughes and Leon Brown early on to give them the edge in the scrum.

The countless errors meant there was nothing to get too animated about but the home fans were getting twitchy because the Ravens were only a converted try behind them.

Ex-Bridgend full back Owen Howe, who starred for the club in their shock cup final victory over Pontypridd in May, kicked a penalty with five minutes to go to make the game safe for Keys.

There was still time for the hosts to bag a penalty try after their dominant front row made mincemeat of their opponents from a scrum five.

Cross Keys: Cross Keys: O Howe, L Lewis, L Andrews (captain), P Uhi, N Trowbridge, E Davies (J Prosser 69), J Leadbeater, G Carpenter (L Garrett 48), E Shipp (D Hughes 48), A Lott (L Brown 48), S Andrews, D Hodge (T Lampard 48), R Tucker (A Powell 66), S Matthews, I Jones.

Replacements: C Povey, O Leonard.

Cross Keys scorers: Tries: James Leadbeater (35), Penalty try (79), Conversions: Ethan Davies (35), Penalty: Owen Howe (75).

Bridgend: M Bennett, R Griffiths, R Evans, O Watkin, M Powell, J Scrivens, W Baird, N Boyce (L Francis 58), I Merriman (D Rogers 58), T Sloane (C Lewis 58), A Evans, R Hughes, Z O'Driscoll (capt) (A O'Driscoll 62), L Evans, M Phillips (G Bilton 62).

Replacements: J Pring, J Gatt, A Fenton.

Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU)