Reds bogged down in the mud

GLASGOW Caley's hopes of reaching the play-off to decide third and fourth place in the WRU Challenge Trophy were lost in the rain and mud of

Brewery Field last night.

They required to win by at least 14 points to make it into the play-offs, but never looked like achieving the target in the

horrendous conditions.

Caley created the first clear-cut opportunity when full back Alan Bulloch gathered a loose clearance in his own half and charged 40 metres into enemy territory.

He found James Craig with a speculative long pass, but the winger was bundled out of play a few strides short of the line.

Reds then gambled by going for position with a penalty rather than trying for goal. The move backfired, however, as they were shoved off the ball at a subsequent scrummage.

Bridgend were gradually gaining control, thanks mainly to a pack, who were constantly putting their Caley counterparts on the back foot.

The Reds were also experiencing problems at line-out time, with Gavin Scott struggling to find his target men.

Then Caley won a penalty and Luke Smith hit a beautifully struck shot from 40 metres out.

Wainwright and company were clearly becoming frustrated with the antics of referee Davies, who certainly appeared to be giving the home side the benefit of the 50-50 verdicts. It was no surprise when he penalised

Manson for killing the ball at the foot of a ruck 35 metres out,

giving Gareth Cull a simple equalising kick.

This sparked Bridgend into more attacking action after the restart and they earned a series of penalties close to the line.

They opted for scrums instead of kicks - and the tendency of Welsh referees to give penalty tries at the drop of a hat was underlined as Davies handed his compatriots seven points for an alleged illegal front-row twist.

To compound Caley's worries, prop Willie Anderson was sent to the sin-bin a minute later for lying on the ball.

This provoked the Reds into giving themselves a glimmer of hope with a touchdown of their own.

Derrick Patterson launched the charge with a quickly taken tapped penalty - and was on the shoulder of Ian Jardine to slide over in the right-hand corner.

Scorers: Bridgend: Penalty try, and. conversion - Cull. Penalty: Cull. Reivers: Try: Patterson. Pen: Smith.

Bridgend: G Cull, S Greenaway, S Winn, L Thomas, O Thomas, A Durston, S Wake, L Manning, A Joy, J White, S Pearce, S Ford (capt), O Lloyd, A Williams, Gavin Thomas.

Replacements used: D Francis, Gareth Thomas, P Thomas, C Davies, G Jones, G Bowen, A Jenkins.

Glasgow Caley: A Bulloch, J Craig, A Collins, I Jardine, D Stark, L Smith, D Patterson, G McIlwham, G Scott, J Manson, G Perrett, S Campbell, R Wainwright (capt), G Flockhart, J Shaw.

Replacements used: W Anderson, M Waite, G MacKay, T Hayes.

Referee: D Davies (Llandarach).